River Jhelum diverted at Uri for power project

Srinagar, Jan 22 (UNI) The river Jhelum has been diverted at Uri in Kashmir to enable the construction of a diversion tunnel for the hydroelectric power project stage-II, the Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) said today.

HCC, a leading engineering-construction company of India, said it had succeeded in diverting the river at the dam site in Uri.

This significant phase, a first step in the construction of 240 MW (60 x 4) power generation project of the National Hydro-electric Power Corporation (NHPC), has been completed at a brisk pace since the operations began two years ago, a release here said.

HCC, which is engaged in the construction of the Uri power project, said the diversion tunnel of length 337.06 m, was constructed despite the area being prone to incessant rain and snowfall.

''The Himalayan region possesses a complex set of challenges for infrastructure building that demand technical and engineering expertise and understanding of local conditions. HCC's long experience in these areas helped in completion of the project before time,'' the release added.

It said the Uri hydroelectric stage II was a project of national importance, having a contract value of Rs 575 crore. The project includes construction of a dam, an underground power house (240 MW), a Head Race Tunnel (HRT), a Tail Race Tunnel (TRT), a diversion tunnel, a surge shaft and a pressure shaft, the release added.

HCC said the construction had started in January 2005 and scheduled to be completed in September 2009.

The project was at a considerably advanced stage at various site locations, the release said.

It said HCC had built several landmark projects in India's hydropower and water resources sector with at least 10 of these situated in the geologically-challenging Himalayan region.

Having also constructed more than 45 dams, barrages and 15 powerhouses in the Indian sub-continent, the company said it had already contributed to over 30 per cent of India's installed hydropower capacity.

HCC has built many other critical infrastructure projects across India and abroad, the release said.

UNI