"Power generation at Obra thermal plant has drastically declined from 540 MW to 40 MW, Anpara thermal plant was supplying 1360 MW as compared to its normal supply of 1560 MW and the 80 MW Pankhi plant in Kanpur has been closed down," Principal Home Secretary Naresh Dayal told reporters here.

He said the effect of the strike, against the government's move to trifurcate the UP State Electricity Board (UPSEB) and privatise some stations, on transmission and distribution was `mixed' and efforts were being made to maintain normal supply by importing about 2000 MW from NTPC to meet the shortfall.

Attributing the sharp fall in generation to `lack of manpower', Dayal said the strike was `total' in Gorakhpur and Varanasiwhile in other districts it evoked `poor to partial' response.

However, a spokesman of the joint action committee of the employees here claimed that the strike was `total' throughout the State. ``Thermal power generation has declined by 1200 MW while hydro-electricity producation has fallen by more than 500 MW'' he claimed.