Power generation comes to halt in Nathpa Jhakri

Shimla, Jul 24 (UNI) Power generation in the country's largest hydel project, the 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri, came to a grinding halt today after the silt level in the reservoir crossed the permissible limit, an official spokesman said.

''All the six units of 250 MW each, were closed today after the silt level in the reservoir crossed the 12,000 ppm at about 0600 hrs,'' he told UNI over the phone.

The power generation in the plant had also remained suspended for three days on July 10, 11 and 12 after the silt level crossed the permissible limit of 4,000 ppm, causing a loss of Rs 25 crore to the central and the state government, which has a 25 per cent stake in the plant.

The spokesman said the plant was shut down early today, hours after it restarted power generation last night following its closure for flushing out silt in the reservoir on Saturday night.

The power generation in the plant would resume as soon as the silt level falls below 4,000 ppm in the reservoir, he said.

He said the silt level in the river was increasing beyond permissible limits quite frequently this year due to widespread heavy rains in the catchment area.

The water discharge has also come down to 1100 cumecs today as against 1365 cumecs recorded yesterday, he added.

UNI AS HS SP ND1902