Hydro projects hit all-time low
Kuldeep Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Mandi, June 24
Power breakdown and cuts can be a regular thing as power generation in 13 hydro projects being run by the HP State Electricity Board (HPSEB) has hit a new low with production of electricity falling by over 20 per cent-- a loss of about 2.036 million units, thanks to the receding water level
in the rivers.

Meanwhile, HPSEB engineers revealed that the board had recorded a generation of 7.588 mu on June 23 this year as compared with 9.6244 mu produced on the same day in 2008.

Though the board had blamed the “freezing glaciers” as the main reason for generation loss last year, this time it has blamed “scarcity of rains and less snowfall in the catchments of
snow-fed rivers”.

The 3 MW Guma project has been shut down as locals had demanded the release of water for drinking and irrigation purpose as per the agreement signed by the then government. The project was producing just 2,000 units of electricity against the installed capacity of 36,000 units,
sources added.

Out of four units, the two units of 60 MW Bassi project has been shut down for renovation, resulting in loss of over 35 lakh units of electricity daily. The two units of project will resume production by August or November, but another two units will be shut down after that, sources added.

Larji was producing 3.043 mu on June 23 which is slightly less than 3.303 mu produced on the same day in 2008. On the other hand, Bhawa surpassed last year mark of 2.957 mu, producing 3.020 million units on June 23 this year as flow in the Bhawa has been optimum so far, sources said.

The generation in Binwa (0.646 mu), Gaj(0.079 mu), Baner (0.061 mu), Khauli(0.066 mu) is almost 40-50 per cent less than recorded on the same day last year, claimed HPSEB engineers.