The Hindu Business Line : Kerala reservoirs set to overflow

Kochi, Sept. 24 Excess rainfall during the current monsoon season has pushed up the water level in the reservoirs of all hydroelectric projects in Kerala to such a level that it has forced the state electricity board to increase hydel power generation at its major project, Idukki, besides operating all others to full capacity to avoid spillage.

Problem of plenty

Water level at the Idukki dam is nearing its full capacity and the authorities may be forced to open the shutters anytime. Generation there has been raised to 8 million units daily, a senior official said.

Meanwhile, small and medium hydel projects such as Kuttiyadi, Peingalkuthu, Neriyamangalam, Kakkad, Muzhiyar and Sholayar are on the verge of spilling and maximum generation is taking place to fully utilise the water, which would otherwise go waste, he said.

The reservoir of Sabarigiri project, which normally used to fill up during the northeast monsoon, has already 80 per cent of its capacity filled up.

The combined water storage in the reservoirs will enable the generation of 5,000 million units of electricity. There has been a 50 per cent increase in the water storage from that of last year this time.

Given this scenario, the total hydel power generation has been increased to 25-26 million units daily. Drawing from the Central power grid continues to remain at 18-19 million units.

Surplus power

As a result, the State now has surplus power of 3-4 million units daily, which is being sold through power traders, mainly to Maharashtra, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.

The prices vary from Rs 3.75 to Rs 5.82 per unit, he said.

Summer demand

The current domestic demand has gone up to around 41 million units and it is expected to go up further during the peak summer.

Though the hydel situation is better than last year, there would be a shortage during the peak season, necessitating either to purchase high-cost thermal power, costing around Rs 7 a unit or resorting to power shedding, the official said.

Opposition to enhancement of power generating capacity by setting up hydroelectric projects, such as the proposed one at Athirapally within the State, and to bring in power from the Koodankulam thermal plant in Tamil Nadu would result in serious power shortage here in the future, he added.

During summer, the peak-hour shortage is estimated at over 200 MW, he said.

“If we were able to purchase the high cost naphtha power for 3 hours from the thermal plants in the State at higher price, then there could be a possibility of reaching an affordable mix with the low-cost power, but that is not possible due to contractual obligations. We may have to lift the power throughout the day and that would raise the cost substantially,” the official added.

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