Calcutta, June 4 :     Amid the gloomy power sector scenario in eastern India, West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd (WBPDCL) is set to provide a silver lining by recording a Rs 48-crore net profit in 1998-99. The unaudited figure represents a staggering increase of 183.18 per cent over the net profit of Rs 16.95 crore in 1997-98. State power minister and WBPDCL chairman Sankar Sen presided over the company?s board meeting today, immediately after he staved off an NTPC threat to stop supplies to a beleaguered West Bengal State Electricity Board (WBSEB). Sources said the quantum jump in profits was mainly the result of cost savings achieved at the 1,260-MW Kolaghat Thermal Power Station (KTPS), and an increase in power sales during the year. The strong demand kept an average four-and-a-half of the six 210 MW plants at KTPS in operation through the year. This was against a gross generation of 5,814 million units and 5229.314 million units sold during 1997-98. KTPS? plant-load factor stood at 52.67 per cent in 1997-98 but it has improved to 57 per cent this year. Board level sources attributed WBPDCL?s good performance to efficient financial and technical management of the Kolaghat Power Station. A measure of the plant?s efficiency was the manpower-to-MW ratio, which was much lower than the industry average. The industry average is way above 2 :1, Central Electricity Authority?s (CEA) norm is 1.8:1, while KTPS? ratio was a healthy 1.6:1. Senior company officials said the board took into account the unaudited balance-sheet and linked higher profits to better management of funds and machines. The interest outgo is estimated at Rs 120 crore, depreciation (only for Kolaghat power station) is close to Rs 105 crore.