JOIN USDry monsoon halts power generation
The district which contributes 38 per cent power to the State grid has received below average rain this year. The quantum of power generated at Sharavathi hydel power project has been reduced steeply owing to depletion in the water level at Linganamakki reservoir while the water stored at Mani reservoir of Varahi hydel power project is also expected to exhaust soon.
Rainfall in the district this year by the end of June stood at 350.5 mm as against the average of 1,127 mm. Last year the district had received 635 mm rain by the end of June.
Power generation at Linganamakki power house of Sharavathi hydel power project and at Bhadra power project has come to a halt due to scarcity of water. Varahi hydel power station located at the border of Shimoga and Udupi district is also through a similar crisis.
Malnad is witnessing dry spell in the month of July also, the time by which monsoon reaches peak. The rainfall in the catchment areas of major reservoirs and the inflow has dropped substantially.
Water level in Linganamakki reservoir stood at 1,740.90 feet on Wednesday against the maximum capacity of 1,819 feet with 732 cusec inflow and 2,491 cusec outflow. Last year on the same day, 1,758.50 feet water was recorded at the reservoir with 30,618 cusec inflow and 6,273 cusec outflow. The catchment areas of Linganamakki reservoir has received 4.8 mm rain on Tuesday while it was 34 mm last year.
Linganamakki reservoir is left with 7.5 percent water of the total storage capacity at present of which only 2.5 percent can be used for power generation. KPC has made significant cut in the power generation in Sharavathi hydel power project. About 4.5 million unit is generated at Sharavathi project at present against the actual capacity of 24 million units. In the year 2003, water level in Linganamakki reservoir had depleted to 1,725 feet which is the lowest level recorded so far. Power generation is possible till 1,720 feet below which water will not flow to the sluice gates.
Sharavathi hydel power station which has four units caters to 25 percent power requirements of the State. 1,035 MW power is generated at Sharavathi power house of Sharavathi hydel project, followed by 240 MW at Gerusoppa power house, 139.20 MW at Mahatma Gandhi power house and 55 MW at Linganamakki power house. Owing to shortage of water, power generation at Linganamakki station has been stopped from Monday. Mahatma Gandhi station is in line which runs on the seepage water of Linganamakki reservoir.
Varahi hydel power project with an installed capacity of generating 469 MW power which amounts to 12 percent of the total generation in the State is also through a similar crisis.
The generation at the power generation station located downstream of Mani reservoir (9 MW capacity) is likely to come to a halt by the end of this week. Water level in Mani reservoir built across river Varahi has come down to 571.7 feet against the maximum level of 594.36 feet which will last till second week of July. Last year on the same day, 575.85 feet water was recorded. The inflow and outflow at Mani reservoir was 300 cusec each on Wednesday which was 2,500 cusec and 693 cusec last year. In the 20-year history of Mani reservoir, the lowest level of 569.2 feet was recorded on June 4, 1996.
KPC officers informed Deccan Herald that the turbines at underground power house near Hosangadi (460 MW capacity) of Varahi project will rotate till water level reaches 559 feet.
Water level in Bhadra reservoir was recorded at 131.2 feet on Wednesday against the maximum level of 186 feet with 111 cusec of inflow and outflow respectively. The reservoir had 150.9 feet water last year on the same day. The Bhadra reservoir has installed capacity to generate 39 MW power which has been stopped now owing to shortage of water.