 "Floods hit power output in Himachal, Uttarakhand")
Massive floods and heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have taken a toll on power generation.
More than 26 per cent of the combined power capacity in the two states has been forced shut, including the country’s largest hydro power project, the 1,500-Mw plant at Nathpa Jhakri and the largest private sector plant, the 1,000-Mw Karcham Wangtoo project run by Jaypee Group in Himachal.
Yesterday, silt levels at Nathpa Jhakri crossed 4,000 parts per million (ppm), against the normal average of 1,500 ppm, leading the operator Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL) to shut the plant. It supplies power to nine states, including Himachal, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. “While we opt for a 8-10 day shutdown every year, the situation is unprecedented this time. It has been made worse by early rains and a cloudburst 10 km upstream of the Nathpa dam,” an executive from SJVNL said.
In Uttarakhand, the killer floods and landslides have damaged a series of under construction projects on the Mandalinki river in the Rudraprayag district. Two big projects of L&T Hydro and Lanco Group have been hit. L&T’s 99 Mw Singholi Bhatwari project near the Kedarnath hills is understood to have suffered damages. “We have heard our project has suffered big damage,” confirmed an L&T executive. A Lanco executive confirmed its 76 Mw Phata Byung project near Rambara has suffered “heavy damages”.
Two hydel projects of state-run Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL), 6 Mw Kaliganga-I and 4 Mw Kaliganga-II, have been hit due to mudslides. “Our losses are to the tune of Rs 77 crore,” UJVNL managing director G P Patel said. He added half a dozen projects, including 90 Mw Maneri Bhali-I and 304 Mw Maneri Bhali-II, are not generating power.
The monsoon rains have so far claimed 69 lives, according to the latest status report released by the government. This is the worst in several decades in Uttarakhand. The report said 26 people were missing. Top police officials conceded the enormity of the damage caused by heavy rains. According to unconfirmed reports, between 500 and 1,000 persons might have gone missing in the Kedarnath region alone.
Uttarakhand toll 150
The magnitude of nature's fury in Uttarakhand unfolded on Wednesday as the toll rose to 150, with fears it may go up substantially. After an aerial survey of the affected areas, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a Rs 1,000-crore aid to the state. Clear skies enabled stepping up of rescue and relief operations but efforts were hampered by the destruction of the roads. Several thousand pilgrims are stranded as reports came the Kedarnath Temple was intact but the complex and the Rambada area had suffered total destruction.
"Very heavy casualties are feared and I cannot give the exact number without a proper survey," said Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna who described the flood ravage as unprecedented caused by a "Himalayan tsunami". Singh and Congress President made an aerial survey of the affected areas and described what they saw as "most distressing". He announced Rs 1,000 crore aid for the state for disaster relief of which Rs 145 crore is being released immediately. "I have also directed all Central agencies to render all possible assistance in their domain to the state," he told reporters on his return.
More than 26 per cent of the combined power capacity in the two states has been forced shut, including the country’s largest hydro power project, the 1,500-Mw plant at Nathpa Jhakri and the largest private sector plant, the 1,000-Mw Karcham Wangtoo project run by Jaypee Group in Himachal.
Yesterday, silt levels at Nathpa Jhakri crossed 4,000 parts per million (ppm), against the normal average of 1,500 ppm, leading the operator Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL) to shut the plant. It supplies power to nine states, including Himachal, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. “While we opt for a 8-10 day shutdown every year, the situation is unprecedented this time. It has been made worse by early rains and a cloudburst 10 km upstream of the Nathpa dam,” an executive from SJVNL said.
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Himachal has an installed hydro power generation capacity of 4,883 Mw. Of this, 1,524 Mw is down. The projects being impacted include a few small sized plants of state-run National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited. Three of NHPC’s plants – 280 Mw Dhauliganga, 120 Mw Tanakpur and 390 Mw Dulhasti — have been forced shut. Public sector generator Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited said its reservoir-based 1,000 Mw Tehri project in Uttarakhand has not been impacted. The two states together meet over a tenth of the northern region’s monthly power demand of 26,400 million units. The shutdown in capacity has brought down daily power availability for the national capital to 150 Mw from 450 Mw. But, power supply in Delhi might not be impacted significantly as lower temperature has pulled down demand.
In Uttarakhand, the killer floods and landslides have damaged a series of under construction projects on the Mandalinki river in the Rudraprayag district. Two big projects of L&T Hydro and Lanco Group have been hit. L&T’s 99 Mw Singholi Bhatwari project near the Kedarnath hills is understood to have suffered damages. “We have heard our project has suffered big damage,” confirmed an L&T executive. A Lanco executive confirmed its 76 Mw Phata Byung project near Rambara has suffered “heavy damages”.
Two hydel projects of state-run Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL), 6 Mw Kaliganga-I and 4 Mw Kaliganga-II, have been hit due to mudslides. “Our losses are to the tune of Rs 77 crore,” UJVNL managing director G P Patel said. He added half a dozen projects, including 90 Mw Maneri Bhali-I and 304 Mw Maneri Bhali-II, are not generating power.
The monsoon rains have so far claimed 69 lives, according to the latest status report released by the government. This is the worst in several decades in Uttarakhand. The report said 26 people were missing. Top police officials conceded the enormity of the damage caused by heavy rains. According to unconfirmed reports, between 500 and 1,000 persons might have gone missing in the Kedarnath region alone.
Uttarakhand toll 150
The magnitude of nature's fury in Uttarakhand unfolded on Wednesday as the toll rose to 150, with fears it may go up substantially. After an aerial survey of the affected areas, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a Rs 1,000-crore aid to the state. Clear skies enabled stepping up of rescue and relief operations but efforts were hampered by the destruction of the roads. Several thousand pilgrims are stranded as reports came the Kedarnath Temple was intact but the complex and the Rambada area had suffered total destruction.
"Very heavy casualties are feared and I cannot give the exact number without a proper survey," said Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna who described the flood ravage as unprecedented caused by a "Himalayan tsunami". Singh and Congress President made an aerial survey of the affected areas and described what they saw as "most distressing". He announced Rs 1,000 crore aid for the state for disaster relief of which Rs 145 crore is being released immediately. "I have also directed all Central agencies to render all possible assistance in their domain to the state," he told reporters on his return.