Hirakud hydel project runs after 16 years

Sambalpur, Aug 15 (UNI) After a gap of 16 years the power house at Burla, a part of the multi-purpose Hirakud dam project, became operational.

The power house,capable of generating electricity up to 275.5 MW started running smoothly from Monday last,Orissa Hydel Power Corporation (OHPC)sources said.

The power house lying idle, resumed power generation after renovation of the turbines and generators using latest hydro-power technology available internationally, OHPC Senior General Manager Banamali Mishra said.

The power house of the Hirakud dam project located at Burla has seven units having different capacities, while the first two units are 49.5 x 2 MW,three other units are 37.5 MW and rest two units have the capacity of 32 MW, Mr Mishra said.

The renovation of the first and second units was taken up in 1992 which was completed in 1998.Work on the third and fourth units began in 2002-03 and completed in 2005.

Nearly Rs.111 crore was spent for the renovation of third and fourth units.The authority had submitted proposal for the renovation of fifth and sixth units.

Mr Mishra said, ''we are quite happy to see the power house generating electricity to its maximum capacity after a long period of 16 years to fulfil the very objective behind this multipurpose dam project.'' He said after the renovation of the fourth unit, including the technological upgradation,the power house was now generating power varying from 220 MW to 240 MW according to the need and requisition from GRIDCO.

The renovation, Mr Mishra said, was carried out with help of firms from Germany and the United Kingdom. The capacity of the power house,he said, could be further increased above 275.5 MW, with the renovation of fifth and sixth units.

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