Uttarakhand floods damage hydropower stations

Apart from the great human tragedy the Uttarakhand state has suffered due to floods, the extensive damage to the physical infrastructure it has sustained has begun surfacing with two hydropower stations in the state reporting damages and stoppage of power generation.

While one belonged to NHPC Ltd, the other is owned by Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd. Though the extent of damage is yet to be known, both the projects are covered by risk insurance policies.

Dhauliganga power station

In a communication to the stock exchanges, NHPC said that due to “cloud burst and unprecedented high floods in Uttarakhand’’,  water had inundated its Dhauliganga Power Station (280 MW) and submerged all the systems in the early hours of June 17.

NHPC said that the power generation at the plant was stopped and steps were taken to resume generation as fast as possible.

The company said that ancillary structures like roads, residential and non-residential buildings had sustained damages and communication and power supply was fully disrupted in the power house, dam, colony and other project areas. The severity of the damage was being assessed. As the project was covered under All Risk Insurance Policy, requisite information has been given to the insurance company.

Vishnuprayag hydropower plant

JPVL has said that because of heavy rains in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, where its 400-MW Vishnuprayag hydropower plant was located, excessive silt, boulders and other materials in the Alakananda river have affected the river protection works and led to shutdown of the barrage operations and power generation with effect from June 16.

Even as the company was taking measures to restore generation, assessment of damages will be made after access to the site becomes possible. The unprecedented floods in Alaknanda has led to “Force Majeure event for 400-MW Vishnuprayag project’’, which is covered under Industrial All Risk Insurance Policy, the company said.

Shares of JPVL fell to a new 52-week low of Rs 19.50 on the BSE today before they recovered to Rs 19.55, a loss of  85 paise. NHPC stock lost 40 paise to trade at Rs 17.80 on the BSE.