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Water level of Getalsud dam will have to rise by another 6 feet for Sikidiri hydel units to start running
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Not just farmers, state-owned Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB) is also waiting for the rain god to show some mercy so that it can start generation at Subernarekha Hydel Power Station in Ranchi’s Sikidiri.
With the water level at Getalsud reservoir failing to reach the desired height because of a weak monsoon the authorities are not able to draw water to feed the power plant.
“So far, we have not been unable to start power generation at the hydel power plant at Sikidiri due to the low water level even during monsoon this year. The current water level stands at 1,915 feet. We can draw water only when the level reaches 1,935 feet,” JSEB chairman S.N. Verma told The Telegraph.
According to JSEB surveys, the two Sikidiri units could be started once the water level went up by another 6 feet to touch the 1,921 feet mark at least — and that seems a long way even though the monsoon has picked up in the last 48 hours.
“We can then prevail upon the drinking water and sanitation department to open sluice gates and release water for power generation. The Getalsud reservoir also supplies drinking water to a sizeable portion of the state capital’s population. Hence, we can commence generation only with surplus water, which will be released back into Subernarekha,” the JSEB chief explained.
Located around 40km from Ranchi, the Getalsud reservoir at Sikidiri has a catchment area spread over 6,000sq miles and harnesses water from Subernarekha. Two hydel power units, installed between 1977 and 1980, have a total installed capacity of 130MW and are equipped to generate power for three to four hours daily when the water level is at 1,935 feet. The power generated is exclusively for Ranchi.
Till July 31, Jharkhand has received around 432mm rain from the time monsoon set in June against a normal average of 521mm. The rainfall deficit in the state this year stands at 17 per cent as of August 1.
Verma also blamed huge silt deposits at the Getalsud reservoir for the low water level. “No dredging has ever been undertaken at the dam ever since it was constructed way back in 1971. JSEB has already forwarded a proposal to begin desilting to the drinking water and sanitation department that looks after the dam.
“Once we have the department’s approval, we will get in touch with a host of public sector and private players to carry out the dredging at the earliest,” he added.
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