UJVN completes renovation of two hydel projects

At a time when new hydel projects have hit roadblocks due to religious and environmental concerns in Uttarakhand, the state-run Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam (UJVN) has completed renovation, modernisation and uprating (RMU) of two hydel projects - the Mohammadpur hydro power project and Pathari hydel project - to improve their power capacities.

Gogoal-HPP, a joint venture company, was roped in for RMU of the Mohammadpur hydro power project. After spending Rs 71 crore, the project is now generating nine to 10 megawatts (Mw) of power. Seventy per cent of the fund was raised through a Nabard loan, with UJVN contributing the rest, 30 per cent, from its own resources. "The power projects, whose RMU have been completed, are giving excellent results," said UJVN Managing Director G P Patel.

Another project where the RMU work has completed is Pathari hydel project, which is also on the Upper Ganga Irrigation Canal in Haridwar. The Pathari project is now generating 20.4 Mw of electricity against 12 Mw few years ago. The RMU of Pathari project was done by Andritz Hydro, a German firm.

B C K Mishra, UJNV's executive director, said, "In both Pathari and Mohammadpur plants, the power generation has been doubled." Notably, RMU of Khatima hydel project is likely to complete in the next two to three years. The Khatima project had suffered extensive damage following a breach in the canal in August. Alstom has bagged the contract for its RMU, where investment will be Rs 116 crore.