The controversial 1,000 Mw Tehri hydel project is back in news after the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) decided to raise the reservoir level (RL) to 830 meters.
With the RL hovering around 825 meters, several villages in Chinyalisaur area of Uttrarkashi district have been inundated with the state government contemplating a move to take action against the THDC for raising the water level.
Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, who took stock of the situation around the flooded areas yesterday, said the government has already sent notices to THDC in this regard. The District Magistrate of Tehri, Radhika Jha has now sought permission from the government to take action against THDC.
The government is of the view that the THDC did not take prior permission before raising the level from 810 meter to 820 meters.
On the other hand, THDC officials said the water level went to 825 meter level due to heavy rains in the catchment area of Bhagirathi river during the past one-two months.
The officials however admitted that the project was currently producing 1,060 Mw of power which is 60 Mw more than its capacity. During the lean season especially during winter, the project produces only 250-500 Mw of peaking power.
Faced with acute shortage of power, the state government has already set its eyes on the mega hydel project asking the centre to transfer the 25 per cent share of Uttar Pradesh in the dam to the hill state.
The main contention of the Chief Minister is that since the Tehri project lies in Uttarakhand, the equity of Uttar Pradesh should be transferred to the hill state. Under the provision of the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2000, there is a clause under section 47(3), under which investments made before the creation of Uttarakhand should go to the state where the project is located.
Significantly, Uttar Pradesh is 25 per cent partner of the Tehri project where the centre’s share is 75 per cent.
In case, the Uttar Pradesh’s equity is transferred, Uttarakhand would get nearly 250 Mw of additional power since the Tehri dam has the current capacity of producing 1,000 Mw which has been constructed with a total investment of nearly Rs 9,000-10,000 crore. Uttarakhand currently gets 12.5 per cent of free power from Tehri dam.
Tehri dam comprises a 260.5 high earth and rock-fill dam which is one of the highest in the world. Under the first phase, all the four turbines (250 Mw each) of the project are in operation. Besides providing much needed power to the northern grid, the project has started imparting benefits of additional irrigation facility to 2,70,000 hectares of land. It is also providing drinking water for 40 lakhs people in Delhi and 30 lakh people in Uttar Pradesh.
In the second and third phases, the THDC is implementing 400 Mw Koteshwar dam and 1,000 Mw Tehri pump storage (PSP) plant.
BS
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