Kathua district to suffer shortage
Avtar Bhat
KATHUA, Sept 27: The power supply from 120MW NHPC owned, Sewa Hydel Power Project-II, Hut Maska in Basholi came to a sudden halt today due to leakage in the tunnel of the Project at Reservoir point in village Gatti near Bani.
The NHPC authorities came to know about the puncher of tube when the water in Gatti Reservior suddenly depleted through breach and flowed down in the Sewa river. After the physical verification of Project heavy structures including Pen Stock, Tunnel, Reservoir by the Ptoject authorities they came to know that the leakage of water was from the tunnel.
NHPC Deputy Manager, Bani, Bedi Ram while disclosing this to media persons said that a team of experts has left from Delhi to examine the actual cause of breach and water depletion from the tunnel. He said Power House has been closed for generation to avoid further damage to the canal and its other heavy structures. However, he could not ascertain how much loss the NHPC has suffered due to the breach. Though maintaining that damage will not be much, he said the organization has taken quick steps for restoration of the project and it has called a team of experts and engineers from Delhi who will reach damaged site by this evening.
He said after examining the area where breach has taken place the restoration work will be started on war footing. He said during this period of the year the water discharge in the river is very less up to 550 cusecs on which only one tube will be run so the loss incurred will not be more. He said after proper examination by the experts and engineers it will be ascertained how much quantum of work will be involved.
He, however, could not disclose how much time the restoration work of the project would be completed. The DGM said the NHPC authorities have informed the local administration about the damage to the tunnel and sought its help in restricting people to visit the damaged site.
He said though no inhabitation is near the damaged site, yet the people have been advised not to venture towards the place where the tunnel has developed a breach for their safety.
He claimed that after the land sliding in past some time due to heavy rainfall, a part of tunnel has developed a snag. After getting final reports the reservoir gates were opened and water was depleted from the Reservoir to avoid any other loss to project or the people. He said information was immediately flashed to Head Office Delhi for further technical assistance.
The power generation is shut down since last two days when the matter came into light.
However when contacted Chief Engineer, M&RE, Jammu Gurmeet Singh said that Sewa Hydel Project generation falls during this period due to less discharge in the river so it will not badly affect the power supply in Jammu region.
He said that the power from the project is supplied to Hiranagar and Kathua Grid Stations and to some extent the areas falling in Kathua district would be affected.
However, Executive Engineer, PDD, Grid Jammu, Sanjeev Rohmetra said the difference created in power supply due to breakdown of Sewa Hydel Project II will be met by the Northern Grid and he does not feel that it can make a major difference as at this time of year the generation also falls in the project due to less discharge of water in the river.
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