Govt to modernise Sharavathi hydel plant

The State government has been planning to augment the power generation at Sharavathi hydel plant at Jog in Sagar taluk, to mark its golden jubilee celebrations.

Speaking to reporters after inspecting the plant on Saturday, Energy Minister D K Shivakumar said that the hydel plant set up in 1964 generated 1035 MW of power per day. “The government has plans to modernise all the ten units of the plant to boost power generation,” he said.

The plant generates power at a cost of 24 paise per unit, making it the only hydel unit in the country producing power at such a low cost. The golden jubilee celebrations of the plant is likely to be held in December. “A study had been commissioned on enhancing power generation at Shivanasamudra, Shimsha and Sharavathi plants. The government will lay emphasis on power generation by private entities,” he said and added as many as 11,500 posts of linemen would be filled soon and it had been decided to lower the minimum qualification for the post to SSLC from ITI.