Sawra Kuddu barrage filling starts

Tribune News Service

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Shimla, July 18

Marred by delay and cost overruns, Himachal Power Corporation Ltd (HPCL) today started the filling the barrage of the 111 MW Sawra-Kuddu hydroelectric project on the Pabber river in Shimla district for testing.

Devesh Kumar, Managing Director, pressed the button for filling the barrage in the presence of Mahesh Sirkek, director (electrical), DS Thakur, director (civil), Manmohan Sharma, director (personnel & finance) and Vinay Kumar Manan, GM, Sawra Kuddu project.

Though the MD did not give any deadline for generation of electricity in the project, Devesh Kumar said, “The initial filling process of barrage will continue for 15 days. The project will start power generation shortly”.

He said during the filling process the hydraulic behaviour of barrage and the intake structure, including the hydro mechanical parts, will be tested. The project is in the final stage of its completion and the filling of water conductor system shall be undertaken soon, he added.

According to the HPCL sources, the main bottleneck in the construction of this project was excavation of 11.365 km head race tunnel. The project will generate 386 million units per annum in a 90 % dependable year. It has 11.365-km long, 5 m finished diameter head race tunnel (HRT) and three turbines, each of 37 MW capacity.

After commissioning, each project affected family will be provided 100 units of electricity per month for a period of 10 years.