Despite the fact hydro-power projects have also faced the brunt of the natural catastrophe that was witnessed in the State, two months back, the power generation agency — Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam limited — has managed to set new records in terms of electricity generation. Department officials told that the State run turbines have managed to generate 20.89 million units in the State and officials claimed that the increased power generation will help the State to meet with the growing demand of electricity in the State.
As per the figures compiled by the department, UJVNl has generated 20.89 million units of electricity on August, 09, which is a new record of highest generation on single day in the current financial year. Department sources told that the department is able to set new records as the power generation had resumed in a short span of two days on June 21 at Badrinath based hydro power project and the power supply was resumed to sacred shrine of the State.
In an exclusive interaction with The Pioneer, GP Patel, Managing Director, UJVNl said that power generation will improve further in the coming days. After expressing satisfaction that turbines are generating ample amount of electricity to meet with the daily demand of electricity in the State even though limited faced the brunt of natural calamities, Patel said that timely maintenance, renovation and up-gradation of power plants helps the department to exceed the limit of power generation. Patel said that stern instructions have been released to officials to carry RMU (Renovation, Up-gradation and Maintenance) to meet with the power generation. “ I visited couple of hydro power projects by road after state faced the brunt of natural calamites two months back,” he said, and stressed that strict departmental action would be surely taken against those officials, who fail to perform as per the desired standards.
According to him, maintaining adequate water levels in reservoirs is the main focus of the department for the optimum power generation and department is able to set new records and achieved its targets on time due to the number of maintenance works and safety initiatives being undertaken besides lowering the technical snags. It is also important to mention here is that the Maneribhalli-I (90 megawatt), Maneribhalli-II (34megawatt), Pilangad (2.25megawatt) in Uttarkashi district, Badrinath-II(1.25megawatt), Pandukeshwar (750kilowatt), Urgam (3megawatt), Tharali (400megawatt) in Chamoli district, Kanchotti (2megawatt),Chirkilla (1.5megawatt), Relagaad (3 megawatt) in Pithoragarh district and Kaliganga-I(4megawatt) in Rudraprayag are badly damaged.