Nathpa generating power to capacity

Shimla, July 3 (UNI) State-owned Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL) has generated over 300 million additional units during the second quarter from April to June as compared to the corresponding period last year, Chairman-cum Managing Director (CMD) H K Sharma said today.

He said the project generated 2,415 million units (MUs) during the quarter as against a target of 2,230 MUs, representing an increase of 15 per cent over the corresponding period last year.

Since the plant was generating capacity power, this has benefited the consumer states of Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttranchal, Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir, he said, adding that it also earned a revenue of Rs 500 crore during the quarter.

Mr Sharma said the project has, up till now, generated 12,800 MUs of power since it started operations in September 2003, and added that it generated 4,055 MUs in 2005-06 and 5,108 MUs in 2004-05.

Attributing higher power generation this year due to better plant management and regular flushing out of silt from the reservoir, he said this was besides the implementation of the elaborate catchment area treatment plant that had reduced the flow of silt in the reservoir.

The CMD said the project had the largest de-silting complex in the world with a capacity to exclude particles up to 0.2 mm, besides other measures were also being undertaken to minimize damage to the machines due to silt.

The flow of water in Satluj River recorded a gradual increase from the first week of May, resulting in capacity power generation in each of the 250 MW units of the plant, he said.

Mr Sharma said, however, on certain days in May, the flow was as low as 200 cumecs, reducing power generation during that period.

In the month of June, as the water discharge in the river increased, power generation in the SJVNL picked up, covering the losses suffered during May, he added.

UNI AS DP MMS VJ RN2115