Rains hit hydropower ops in North India

The heavy rains in North India have impacted operations at hydropower plants for the past couple of days. Officials with hydropower companies said that power generation has been impacted by accumulation of silt.

- Rituraj Baruaj

Several hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh have been shut for the past two days. Four plants of NHPC—Dul Hasti Hydro Electric Project (3 units of 130 MW each), Salal (6 units, 115 MW each) on the Chenab river in Jammu & Kashmir, Chamera II (3 units,100 MW each) and Chamera III (3 unitsmof 77 MW each) on the Ravi in Himachal Pradesh -- are shut.

Rajendra Prasad Goyal, director (finance) at NHPC said the plants have been shut for the past two days amid concern that heavy silting may impact the turbines. They are expected to resume operations soon. He said that the halt has “partially impacted" power generation.