The power generation in the State run hydro power projects has badly affected due to heavy downpour and landslides in the higher parts of the State. However, department officials told that the power generation will start improving from next week onwards.
Department sources told that the power is reported to be badly affected due to the silt in most of the Himalayan rivers and its tributaries in the higher parts of Uttarakhand. However, department officials told that regular maintenance is being conducted to overcome the problem of silt in the river.
After experiencing heavy thundershowers in the mountainous parts of the State, the power generation has also adversely affected resulting the gap between power generation and demand has increased once again . Department officials told that the power generation improved on Wednesday.
Officials expressed concern over silt and debris in the Himalayan rivers and its tributaries. It has become obstruction for generating optimum electricity through State run hydro power projects. Well established sources revealed that the power generation of nearly 700 megawatt was affected due to the silt and debris. Unable to cope up with the widen gap of demand and electricity in the State, the department had followed six hours of power outage in the rural areas of Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts of Uttarakhand whereas small towns of the State faced the power cut of three to hours in a day.
Among the worst affected establishments were non-continues industries and furnace as power outage of nearly 12 hour was followed. However, it is a matter of relief for the department that Chibbro and Khodri (200megawatt) have started generating electricity in the State whereas Kalagarh hydro power project generated 38 megawatt of electricity on Wednesday.
One of the department sources who wished anonymity told The Pioneer that silt like broken trees, debris etc. increases the chances of damaging the turbines of the hydro power projects and the power generation is stopped for preventing the costly machines and equipments. He said that maintenance of old turbines especially greasing is a regular feature for generating electricity to meet with the demand of power in the State. He further claimed that the power generation will improve in the coming days, once the silt reduces in the Himalayan rivers and its tributaries.