The Hindu Business Line : DVC to relook at hydel projects in Bengal, Jharkhand

AFTER nearly half a century, Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) is taking a relook at the hydel power generation potential in its designated catchment area, spreading over West Bengal and Jharkhand.

The corporation recently appointed the Central Water Commission of India (CWC) for a comprehensive study of the Damodar river valley region.

The study report would also provide inputs on the siltation problem, which is affecting the flood prevention capacities of the dam and barrage system under DVC.

A joint venture of the Union Government and West Bengal and Jharkhand State Governments, flood prevention was one of the prime objectives of the multi-purpose river valley project.

Though DVC had set up three hydel generation facilities of a combined capacity of 104 MW soon after its inception between 1953 and 1959, barring a 40 MW capacity addition to its Panchet hydel power station in 1991, the corporation has largely focused on thermal power generation during the last four decades.

Apart from easy availability of coal in the region vis-à-vis higher project cost, the legal complications involved in hydel power generation had also played its due role in shifting the corporation's focus towards thermal generation.

Accordingly, thermal capacities now contribute 2,535 MW out of DVC's total generation capacity of 2,761 MW. There is no mention of hydel power either in the publicised 6,210 MW capacity expansion programme, of which 1,210 MW would be added in the next two years through capacity expansion at the existing generation stations at Mejia and Chandrapura.

Without citing any firm figure towards future investment in hydel generation, informed sources in DVC told Business Line that the corporation was now reviewing the possibilities of enhancing the hydel capacities, preferably at its existing generation stations at Panchet ( 2 X 40 MW), Maithon (3 X 20 MW) and Tilaya (2 X 2 MW).

"We are now waiting for the CWC study to indicate the untapped potential in hydel generation, if any. Moreover, with half a century having gone by since DVC's inception in 1948, there is every possibility that the river morphology has undergone drastic changes. The study therefore would also help us in managing the existing dam and barrage system more effectively," source said.

While no authentic data is available, sources said that wide-scale deforestation that had taken place in this erstwhile forest valley had resulted in increased rate of siltation.

Accordingly, the reservoir capacities of the four dams, one barrage and over 2,494 km of canal system built to prevent flood and help irrigation in the lean season is affected.

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