River Kali - a source of endless energy

Ganeshgudi, Karnataka, Aug 11: The west flowing river Kali, which has its origin at an elevation of 900 metres in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, seems to be a source of endless energy.

Though the estimated power potential of the river was about 1,700 MW, with an annual yield of 6,500 million units so far, only 1,225 MW had been harnessed in two stages.

In stage one of the project, the 101-m-high Supa dam was built across river Kali at Joida taluk of Uttar Kannada district in 1982 and the power generating units were commissioned in 1985, with the Supa dam powerhouse having an installed capacity of 2x50 MW with an annual energy generation of 450 million units.

Supa dam was full to its capacity of 147.54 m in 1994 for the first time and after a gap of 12 years again it was nearing its brim this year, with heavy rains lashing the Western Ghats. At present, the water level at the dam stood at 141.54 m, with an inflow of 35,000 cusecs and outflow being maintained at 2,300 cusecs per day for power generation purpose.

At present, 1.2 million units of power was being generated per day from the two units, according to Kali Civil Works Chief Engineer M S Venkatram.

He said the commencement of construction of Kadra dam in 1984 and Kodasalli dam in 1988 marked the beginning of stage two of the river Kali hydro electric project.

Mr Venkatram said the water level in the dam was expected to reach its full level in another 15 days if the same inflow and rains continued. The second stage of power development in the Kali valley comprised dams and power houses across the river near the villages of Kodasalli and Kadra in the district, besides Nagjhari power house. At Nagjhari power house, six power generating units were installed between 1979 and 1984, three of which were upgraded to 150 MW from 135 MW.

The Kadra power house having 3X50 MW, Kodalli 3X40 MW, Nagjhari with six units of 3X135 MW and 3X150 MW and Supa power house 2X50 MW contributed to a total of 1,225 MW capacity power generation.

Former Minister and local legislator R V Deshpande, who performed Ganga puja at Supa Dam yesterday, told visiting newspersons he had proposed to the Karnataka Power Corporation (KPC) to hand over the vacant houses it had built during the construction of dams and power houses for its staff, to Uttar Kannada zilla panchayat so that it could be alloted to the poor and needy.

KPC had built hundreds of houses for its staff and had left them vacant after completion of the construction, with only maintenance staff remaining at the sites, he pointed out.

UNI