Hydel projects hold bleak future in view of deluge

State-run UJVN ltd, which generates 1,305 MW of power in hill state, bore brunt of floods by suffering huge losses to tune of Rs 141 core

After environmentalists, the nature’s fury has also not spared the hydropower projects in Uttarakhand. The damage caused by the June 16-17 deluge on hydropower projects in Uttarakhand may be worse than what was previously reported.

From JP Group’s 400 MW Vishnuprayag project on Alaknanda river to NHPC’s 280 MW Dhauliganga project, scores of the operational hydel projects suffered extensive damage in the floods in the state and have been shut down.

The state-run UJVN ltd, which generates 1,305 MW of power in the hill state, bore the brunt of the floods by suffering huge losses to the tune of Rs 141 core. “The losses are huge as our 20 projects with total capacity of 450 MW have been damaged,” UJVN Managing Director G P Patel.

This also includes 90 MW Maneri Bhali-I and 302 MW Maneri Bhali-II, the two big projects of the company. These projects are lying closed due to which the generation of the company has come to 8 million units from 16 million units in the current season.

The fury of Alakanada river, which was bursting at the seems on those days, devastated the Vishnuprayag project near Joshimath in Chamoli district. The JP Power company officials only said the damage is extensive and assessment is being made in this regard. Similarly, NHPC’s 280 MW project on Dhauliganga river in Pithoragarh district has also suffered damage.

In addition to this, the under-construction projects of L&T, GVK, Lanco companies have also suffered huge damages.

“Keeping in view the damage caused by the floods and renewed attacks by environmentalists on hydropower projects, the future of the sector looks bleak in Uttarakhand,” said a top government official.

The recent decision of the state cabinet to impose a blanket ban on all constructions is also being seen a bad omen for new projects. When the Uttarakhand government recently imposed a blanket ban on all construction activities along rivers in view of the worst natural disaster in the state, union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh listened to chief minister Vijay Bahuguna’s new announcement in this regard in rapt attention.

This was understandable because Ramesh had never supported the cause of hydropower projects especially when he was environment and forests minister. Ramesh had also championed the cause of eco-sensitive zone which created a death-knell for scores of projects with a capacity of 1,733 MW in Uttarkashi district along the Bhagirathi river.

But when quizzed about the future of hydropower projects in the Garhwal region in view of the ban on all construction activities, Ramesh replied in a negative gesture suggesting new projects may not be sanctioned.

State disaster management minister Yashpal Arya also remained non-committal saying the issue of hydropower projects was not discussed in the cabinet meeting where the measure on banning construction along rivers was taken. “We will look into this issue (hydropower) after some time,” said Arya.

However, experts on hydropower sector opined that the decision banning new constructions have nothing to do with the hydropower projects. “We should not mix the two issues,” said G P Patel. “If we have to progress, we must build big projects. Otherwise, the darkness will envelope the whole state,” said Avdash Kaushal, a recipient of Padamshree, who is championing the cause of hydropower projects.

Top officials of THDC, a joint venture between Uttar Pradesh and the central government, are of the view that big dams like Tehri control floods considerably and argued that big reservoirs should be allowed to be built.