The 210 MW Unit 2 at the Lehra Mohabbat power plant was restored this morning, marking its return to service after more than 33 months of inactivity. With the unit now operational ahead of the paddy season, PSPCL is expected to be better positioned to meet the growing power demand.

The unit had been offline since May 2022 following the collapse of its ash handling ESP system. The failure was attributed to a shortage of manpower and spare parts, with a three-member panel noting that increased ash load and aging equipment likely contributed to the breakdown. Local contractors and their inexperienced staff reportedly underestimated the severity of the situation, while a senior PSPCL official highlighted a broader shortage of technical personnel needed for proper maintenance across various units. The total estimated loss from the shutdown was around ₹2.4 crore.

"In the summer of 2024, the power supply system faced a critical challenge as demand surged to 16,200 MW," said VK Gupta, spokesperson for the All India Power Engineers Federation.