After facing the brunt of flood ravaged in the mountainous parts of the State, the State run hydro power projects are trying to face the adverse weather condition for generating electricity.
Department sources told that the power generation has reported to be badly affected due to the inclement weather in the higher parts of the State. The heavy rainfall has been proving not favourable for the power generation in the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of Uttarakhand. The power generation in Kalagarh (3x66 MW)hydro power project and Pathri (3x6.8 MW) hydro power project were failed to generate electricity in the State. Among all the hydro power projecets, Maneri Bhalli-1(3x30 MW) also failed to generate a single unit of electricity.
Additionally, Chilla (4x36 MW) hydro power project did not generate electricity for nearly eight hours whereas Dharasu (4x76 MW) hydro power project failed to generate electricity for nearly 14 hours. The similar kind of problem is being faced at Chibbro (4x60MW) and Khoddri (4x30MW) hydro power project to generate electricity since last evening. 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.
The situation has turned worsen after experiencing heavy downpour in the higher parts of the State. Officials expressed concern that silt and debris in the Himalayan rivers and its tributaries have been hindering generation of optimum electricity through State-run hydro power projects.
Unable to meet with the gap of demand and electricity in the State, department has followed six hours of power outage in the rural areas of Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts of Uttarakhand whereas small towns which include landhora, Manglore, laksar, Bahadrabad, Dhakrani, Selaqui, Sahaspur, Vikasnagar, Doiwala, Kotdwar, Jwalapur, Jaspur, Kichha, Khatima, Ramnagar, Gadarpur Town and Bazpur of the State faced the power cut for nearly three to hours in a day.
Among the worst affected establishments are non-continues industries and furnace as power outage of nearly eight hour is being followed. One of the department sources who wished anonymity told The Pioneer that silt like broken trees, boulders, debris etc. are hazardous for the turbines of hydro power projects and the power generation is stopped for preventing the expensive machines and other 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.
However, department officials told that the power generation will start improving from the next week onwards.