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Delhi’s wait for more power gets longer

NEW DELHI: The Capital’s wait for an additional 600 MW of power to meet its peak demand has just got longer. With the commissioning of the 1,000 MW Tehri pump storage scheme in Uttarakhand now delayed, the city will be able to receive its share of 600 MW from the project only after 2012.

The Tehri scheme, foundation stone for which was laid in July 2006, is aimed at generating 1,000 MW of power and for providing balance load to the thermal base generation during off-peak hours. The storage pump will generate hydro-electricity by storing and producing electricity to supply high peak demands by moving water between reservoirs at different elevations.

“Initially the project was scheduled to be commissioned by 2011-12, but due to various constraints it has been deferred by at least a year and a half. Delhi, which is entitled to receive 600 MW of power for the peak hours, will have to wait longer for it,” said an official in the Power Department.

Giving details of the project, he said: “Though Delhi will pay for the power that will be generated at Tehri, it will still work out to be cheaper than the power that can be purchased in the open market to meet the peak demand. Delhi will return 600 MW at night, but will be able to claim the same quantum to meet the peak demand.”

The Tehri scheme is part of the 2,400 MW Tehri hydropower complex in Uttarakhand targeted to add 1,400 MW of new hydropower capacity. It will have four turbines of 250 MW each and the beneficiary States of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, that will supply input power for the pumping operation, will receive power in return to meet their peak demand.According to Power Department officials, the country needs to popularise pump storage stations as they are a reliable source of power generation and offer economical energy.

“The project became viable after Delhi committed 600 MW towards it. There is an urgent need to create an acceptance for such projects. In India there are pump storage systems in Tehri and in Purulia in West Bengal apart from one or two more. For instance in the U.S. they have been able to make good use of the pump storage stations, but unfortunately it is yet to become popular in our country,” explained an official.

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