The runner of the turbine in the Unit 3 of Sharavathy Generating Station (SGS), Karnataka’s largest hydroelectric project with an installed capacity of 1,035 MW, has stopped functioning over the last one week.
Of the 10 units in the SGS, nine are generating power, while Unit 3 has been shut down. Besides, the runner of the turbine in one of the two units in Linganamakki power house has also remained shut due to technical issue over the past few months. The efforts are on to replace runners of both the power generating stations before water level reaches the maximum level of 1819 ft in Linganamakki dam in Sagar taluk.
Speaking to DH, KPCL Chief Engineer H R Ramesh (Electrical) said that as of now, 17 MU to 19 MU of power was being generated from the SGS against the maximum capacity of 24 MU per day. The runner of the turbine in the Unit 3 of the SGS is expected to replaced in a couple of months, he added.
Around 16 MW of power is being generated per day from one of the two units at Linganamakki power house. The total power generation capacity of the power house is 55 MW. Each unit has the capacity to generate 27.5 MW of power per day.
Around 1.9 MU of power is being generated at Mahatma Gandhi power station and 2 to 2.5 MU of power from Gerusoppa power plant on daily basis. As the water level in the dam stood at 1803 feet on July 22, Gerusoppa plant functions for a few hours in the morning and in the evening. However, the remaining three stations are functioning around the clock.
Sources in Linganamakki dam stated that the catchment area of the dam has not been receiving copious rains in the last one week. The inflow of water was 13,136 cusec on July 22. So, the officials are anticipating copious rains in catchment area so that the dam would reach its maximum level at the e
arliest.