With the delayed rains finally arriving, production of hydroelectric power at the river bed power house of the Sardar Sarovar Project in Gujarat, discontinued on July 4th due to erratic monsoon in the main catchments areas of the River Narmada in Madhya Pradesh is likely to restart soon.

Paucity of water in both the Indira Sagar dam and Sardar Sarovar reservoirs and diversion of some water for drinking and necessary irrigation purposes during the summer had forced the 4 beneficiary States Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan to jointly decide to temporarily halt 1,200 MW of hydro power production at RBPH. This is a normal procedure. The decision was taken jointly by the four States.

According to the Tribunal Award, officials regularly meet before the onset of monsoon and review the water levels in the reservoirs and other technical issues involved on a weekly basis.

Mr RK Tripathi MD of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited said “As soon as the rains fill up the reservoirs to the threshold water level, we would soon decide to restart power production. There are 2 power houses at the SSP. The RBPH has an installed capacity of 1,200 MW whereas the canal head power house can generate 250 MW, which it is doing even now.”

The RBPH is an underground power house stationed on the right bank of the river located about 165 meters downstream of the dam. It has 6 Francis type reversible turbine generators of 200 MW installed capacity each. These units can operate at a minimum reservoir water level of 110.64 meters, which can go up to 121.22 meters.

(Sourced from Business Line)