Nathpa Jhakri remains shut; Losses touch Rs 50 crore

Shimla, Aug 2 (UNI) The 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri hydel power project in this district of Himachal Pradesh remained closed for the consecutive tenth day today with the silt level in the reservoir still high, a company spokesman today said.

''All the six units of 250 MW each remained closed for the tenth day as the silt level in the reservoir touched 13,000 parts per million (ppm) as against a permissible limit of 4,000,'' he told UNI over the telephone.

The spokesman said the water discharge in the reservoir was also high at 1,271 cumecs as against a normal discharge of 500 to 600 cumecs.

The plant was closed on July 24 last month after the silt level in the reservoir rose up to 12,000 ppm as against a permissible limit of 4,000 ppm, hours after it restarted power generation following its closure for flushing out silt in the reservoir in the night of July 22.

The spokesman said the silt level at Khab, the confluence of Satluj and Spiti, was alarmingly high at 16,571 ppm and it was presumed that the area upstream was receiving heavy rains that was bringing silt in the river.

The power generation in the plant would resume as soon as the silt level falls below 4,000 ppm in the reservoir, he said, adding that it had suffered losses of Rs 50 crore during the period the plant has remained shut.

The plant also remained closed for three days on July 10, 11, and 12, causing a loss of Rs 25 crore to Centre and the State, which has 25 per cent stake in the plant.

UNI AS HS DK KP[1913