The ‘unscientific’ coal mining in Jantia Hills of Meghalaya is severely affecting power generation at North Eastern Electric Power Corporation’s (Neepco) Kopoli hydro project in Assam due to rise in acid content of water in the reservoir. The high acidic nature of reservoir water has led to unprecedented rise in wear-and-tear and breakdown of machines and parts of the power plant.
Neepco is presently consulting experts and scientists to find how to minimise the risk to its plant. Experts have attributed the peculiar phenomenon to indiscriminate and unscientific coal mining in Jantia Hills of Meghalaya. “This is a national problem. We have to analyse the root cause and ways to contain the problem,” chairman and managing director of Neepco, IP Barooah, told at a seminar in Shillong recently.
The rise in acid content in the water in the reservoirs of the dam was first found in 2006 and since then the acidity has been rising. A study by Geological Survey of India found that geological formations, human activity, effect of pollution were some of the possible causes of the acidity, Neepco CMD was quoted as saying by sources.
He said that power generation at the plant has been severely affected due to unprecedented rise in wear and tear and breakdown of machines and hydraulic structures caused by acidic waters in the reservoirs. The 275 MW project was the first to be executed by NEEPCO, and was commissioned in 1984. It is located at Umrangsu in North Cachar Hills district of Assam.
The acidity of the reservoir water, sources said, has seriously affected the performance of the plant with severe corrosion and erosion of underwater parts, like guide vanes, pivot ring, top cover and some other parts except those made of stainless steel.
