Khab hydel project vital for checking flash floods in Sutlej

Shimla, June 13 (UNI) The construction of 1020 MW Khab Hydro Power Project in tribal district of Kinnuar, near to Indo-Tibet border, was vital for checking of silt and flash flood and increase the life of hydro power projects downstream river Sutlej, Chairman-cum-Managing Director Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) H K Sharma today said.

Talking to media persons here he said the Khab Project would have capacity to with-hold 12 million cubic Mts of silt which would be very beneficial for the Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power project (1500 MW) which was receiving 16 million cubic Mts of silt annually.

The problem of silt had become so acute in NJPC that the management had decided to stop operations once a week to flush out the silt and the total loss due to reduction in power generation was estimated between Rs 500 crore and Rs 800 crore annually.

Mr Sharma said that environment clearance had been accorded by the union forest and environment ministry for first phase of Khab Project (631 MW) but the agreement with the Himachal Pradesh government was yet to be signed as the 70 per cent employement to local people clause imposed by the state government was under consideration of union ministery for power.

He said that all clearances, including clearance from defence ministry would be obtained before commencing execution of the project and the concerns of the state government would be adequately addressed.

He said that besides SJVN, other projects like Koldam (800 MW) and Bhakra dam should also share the cost of Khab dam as, they would also benefit from the project.

UNI AS HS YA BD2133