GVK's Srinagar project still not recovered from shock of last year's deluge

Company has failed to generate any power from the project, which is being built with an investment of nearly Rs 5,000 cr

The GVK group’s attempt to generate power from its 330-Megawatt (Mw) Srinagar hydel project in Pauri district of Uttarakhand might remain a dream with the power plant unable to recover from last year’s devastating floods.

The project, built with an investment of nearly Rs 5000 crore, was inaugurated in March. Last year, flashfloods had breached a dyke in front of the powerhouse, submerging most of the units that were ready for commissioning.

The company had launched a cleaning operation but some portions of the facility had developed cracks. Last month, the power plant developed cracks, forcing the company to abandon plans to generate power.

“There is no danger from the project as of now. The company is repairing all the cracks that were developed recently,” said Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Srinagar, Raza Abbas. GVK officials said the project would be commissioned by the end of this financial year.

The Supreme Court last year had given its clearance to the project following the Dhari Devi controversy.

In March, the company got the project inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow. The Company had signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Uttar Pradesh government and would provide only 13% free power to Uttarakhand.

The PPA is at the centre of controversy in the hill state since it is facing acute power shortage and is forced to buy power from outside the state.