Hydropower station at Sardar Sarovar becomes operational

Six main power-generating turbines of Sardar Sarovar Dam at Kevadia in Narmada district of Gujarat have become operational since July 12, producing electricity at its full capacity after 65,000 cusec of water was released from the dam in Madhya Pradesh due to heavy rainfall in the catchment areas.

"All the six units of riverbed power house of 200 MW each have been generating power at its installed capacity because of the high flow of water in the river since a week. The totalled installed capacity of the riverbed power house is 1200 MW," an official of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNL) said.

The total installed capacity of this hydropower station is 1450 MW (which includes five canal based power house at Sardar Sarovar dam), the official said adding that the level of water in the dam has been improving and has risen to 115.84 meters (as on July 18).

All the turbines of the riverbed and canal based power house came into operation due to early arrival of monsoon in the catchment areas in Madhya Pradesh, the official said.

The decision to operate all these turbines was taken after consultation with the Narmada Control Authority (NCA), he said.

As much as 57% of electricity generated by the dam is supplied to Madhya Pradesh, 27% to Maharashtra and 16% to Gujarat.

In last one week, the dam has produced about 15 crores units of electricity which is being sold to the Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL).