With water levels increasing marginally in some major reservoirs in the southern and western Odisha due to good amount of rainfall in the last 24 hours, the State Government is hoping generation of more hydro power to meet the prevailing crisis situation.
After remaining idle for more than three months, the Balimela Hydro Power Station generated 48 MW power on Saturday much to the relief of power-starved Gridco. The hydro power station, with a generating capacity 510 MW, was kept idle due to water scarcity. The water level was much below the minimum draw down level (MDDL) of 438.9 mt. Reports received by the Government from Balimela said the water level is 1.33 mt above the MDDL and more rainwater is gushing into the reservoir. The low-pressure-induced monsoon rains have lashed the undivided Koraput district during the last 24 hours.
The Balimela Hydro Power Station has the capacity to generate nearly 350 MW peaking power. The power station supplied 135 MW on Sunday. More power would be available with further improvement in hydro position, sources in Gridco said.
The water level in the Hirakud reservoir is steadily increasing. By the time this report was filed the water level of the reservoir was 600 ft as against the full reservoir capacity of 630 ft. Two units of Burla Hydro Power Station are out of order for the last couple of days. Sources in the Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) said efforts are being made to bring back the two units into operation by Tuesday.
Water level in Indravati reservoir has also increased. The water level in the reservoir has increased from 624 mt to 628 mt. The minimum draw down level is 625 mt while full reservoir capacity is 642 mt.
Indravati Hydro Power Station with a generating capacity of 600 MW is the mainstay of the State so far as hydro power is concerned. The Water Resources Department has been regulating release of water from the reservoir for the ongoing kharif operation. The State is currently getting 700 MW to 800 MW of hydro power as against 1,500 MW during normal hydro conditions.
Two more units of NTPC __ one unit each at Kaniha and Kahalgaon __ are expected to be back to the Eastern Grid on Tuesday.
If the thermal units, which have gone off the grid, will resume power generation as expected, the Government may consider to do away with load shedding during evening hours from August 1, official sources said. Minister of State for Energy Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak on Sunday visited the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC) at Mancheswar here to know the availability of power from different sources.
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