Power generation in Nathpa remains suspended

Shimla, Jul 28 (UNI) The 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri hydro power project in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh remained closed closed for the fifth day today as the silt level was alarmingly high in the reservoir, a spokesman for the project said today.

''Today, the silt level in the reserviour reached 9,000 parts per million (ppm) as against 6,500 ppm recorded yesterday, while the water discharge was between 1,100 and 1,200 cusecs against 1,085 cusecs recorded yesterday,'' he told UNI over the telephone.

The plant was closed on Monday morning after the silt level rose up to 12,000 ppm as against a permissible limit of 4,000 ppm, hours after it restarted power generation following it closure for flushing out silt in the reservoir on Saturday night.

The spokesman said the silt level at Khab, the confluence of Satluj and Spiti, was alarmingly high and ranged between 28,000 and 30,000 ppm and it was presumed that the area upstream was receiving heavy rains that was bringing silt in the river.

The silt level in Spiti River, also known as ''Dirty River'', due to its muddy water, was far less than that in Satluj River, he said.

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.

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