Bharuch floods: Narmada waters could have been put to 'better use', generating Rs 85 crore

By Himanshu Thakkar*

One of the ways the Narmada waters in the Sardar Sarovar Dam (SSD) could have been put to productive use, instead of draining them from the spillways, leading to major floods in Bharuch between August 29 and September 2, would have been by generating power by operating the 1200 MW River Bed Power House (RBPH) and 250 MW Canal Head Power House (CHPH) at full capacity over a longer period.
A perusal of the Narmada Control Authority’s (NCA’s) Daily Status Reports and Daily Plant Report of the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) Power Houses tells us that till August 25, RBPH was generating zero power since July 14 and even CHPH generated no power even on August 25, and just 0.509 MU (Million Units), operating just one of the five 50 MW units for 11 out of 24 hours on August 26.
It was only by September 3 that both RBPH and CHPH started operating at full capacity. If SSD operators had started generating full power even from August 21 (in consultation with NCA and beneficiary states of MP and Maharashtra, they would not have said no to additional power that is rightfully theirs), SSP could have generated additional 283.85 MU in additional ten days, which would have meant additional value generation of Rs 85 crore, assuming price of Rs 3 per unit of power.
But for some strange, unknown reasons, water was not used productively, which would have also helped a step towards avoiding flood disaster in Bharuch.
Why did the SSP power units take over seven days to reach full load? The first unit of RBPH was started at 14.45 hours on August 26, as per NCA daily updates dated Aug 27, 2020. Thereafter slowly other units were started. All six RBPH units started operating for the first time at 0120 hrs on August 30, as per the power station NCA update of Aug 31, 2020.
However, the units were still not operating at full load. The units were operating around 160 MW load against its 200 MW capacity on August 30, August 31, September 1 (164 MW), September 2 (196 MW). It was only on September 4 when all six RBPH units were for the first time operating at or above 200 MW rated capacity, when the RBPH generation reached 28.538 MU as per NCA power plant update dates September 5, 2020.
On Sept 4, 2020, the RBPH discharge also reached a peak of 1,199 cumecs as reported by NCA Daily Status report of September 5, 2020. CHPH power generation reached a peak of 3.902 MU on September 1, and its discharge of 437.8 cumecs was also maximum during that period.
The big mystery is: Why did SSP power units take so many hours and days to reach peak load? The four retired officials’ note (published by Counterview), in their reply to my view (see Counterview), state: "In fact, Operation of River Bed Power House was started on August 26, 2020 and gradually stepped up to operation of all 6 turbines at I0.00 hours on August 30, 2020."
This is clearly wrong in many details, as usual, but agrees that RBPH took five days to start all six units (full load is a different matter). It should have taken no longer than an hour to ramp up all the units of SSP power houses. The delay of so many days not only meant lower power generation, but also additional floods in downstream areas.
Let us take note of the celebrated event of April 5, 2020 when this prowess of quick ramping down and up of hydropower projects was successfully showcased at national level.
On April 5, 2020, when following the Prime Minister's call for 9 minutes lights off at 9 pm, the sudden drop in power demand was 31,089 MW, and that ramping down of generation within minutes could be possible due to hydropower projects, as media reported quoting Union Power Minister, among others.
The demand then jumped by 28,001 MW in the next one hour. Both this ramping down and up, within minutes was possibly due to hydropower projects.
So the mystery of slow ramping of SSP power units remains unresolved.
--
*South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers & People (SANDRP), Delhi

Comments

Wakeup call? Rice, wheat 'being targeted' by GM crop big business. and its 'researchers'

By Bharat Dogra* A wake-up call before it is too late—the most important food crops—staple food of billions of people—rice and wheat are being targeted by GM crop promoting big business interests and the researchers allied to them. Their most important although undeclared goal is not just to increase profits but in addition to gain control and dominance over the world food and farming system.

Fostered by those in power, hatred 'hasn't been' part of Indian narrative

By Osman Sher* It is strikingly ironic that the current climate of prevalent hate in India is fostered not by a disruptive fringe of society, but by those in power—individuals entrusted by the citizens to promote their welfare and foster peace and harmony. It is their responsibility to guide and nurture the populace as if they were their flock.

Muslims 'reject' religious polarisation of Jamaat-e-Islami: Marxist victory in Kulgam, Kashmir

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak* In the international sphere, an orgy of imperialist violence and wars on multiple fronts is unleashed on the world's population to divide people on religious and nationalist lines, destabilise peace, deepen crises, and control resources in the name of nationalism and religion. Under the guise of fighting Islamic terrorism and exporting the so-called market-led Western democracy, imperialist powers are ghettoising Muslims to control natural resources in various parts of Asia, as well as in Arab and Middle Eastern countries.

Aiming to realize vision of Abua Raj in Jharkhand, campaign group unveils people's manifesto

By Our Representative The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan has called on political parties committed to communal harmony and constitutional values to integrate the demands articulated in their manifesto, "Abua Jharkhand, Abua Raj," into their electoral platforms. The manifesto was announced at a press conference where the achievements and shortcomings of the Hemant Soren coalition government over the past five years were summarized.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

NGO coalition criticises Odisha govt for 'abrupt closure' of PVTG nutrition programme

By Our Representative A coalition of non-governmental organizations has condemned the Odisha government's decision to abruptly end a vital nutrition program for children of Primitive Tribal Groups (PVTG) communities. The program, which provided community-based creches and feeding centers, has been a lifeline for thousands of young children in the state.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

Alan Border: Lifeline of Australian cricket, quintessential player to rely on in dire situations

By Harsh Thakor* Alan Border epitomized resilience and determination, becoming the quintessential player to rely on in dire situations. Time and again, he resurrected the Australian cricket team, demonstrating remarkable tenacity against formidable bowling attacks.

Ladakh to Delhi march: Arrest of peaceful protesters: alarm over 'diminishing space' for dissent

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* Issues highlighted by Sonam Wangchuk are of critical importance, particularly the push to include Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. This measure is essential to shield the region from the encroachment of opportunistic outsiders driven solely by profit motives.

Search This Blog