Depleting Mettur level may hit power generation too

By Our Special Correspondent

METTUR, SEPT. 2. The fast depleting level in the Mettur dam is causing widespread concern among farmers who doubt whether water requirements could be fully met to save the standing crop and among the people who fear whether drinking water supply and electricity generation could be sustained.

According to sources, if the level is not replenished within the next two days, the electricity generation in the Tunnel Power House would come to a grinding halt.

At present, the power house is generating 200 MW of power from four units of 50 MW each. There is another source Dam Power House, which is generating 40 MW from four units of 10 MW each.

The turbines in the two houses are being run by drawal of 12,000 cusecs of water a day from the dam. If the required quantum of water is not available, power generation would suffer a setback or the units would have to be shut down.

According to the sources, the generation could be maintained only till the dam level reached 45 ft. If it went down further, the units would be starved of water and eventually closed.

In the event of shutdown of the houses, power supply to Salem city would be in jeopardy. Already, the supply here has drawn a flak for wild fluctuations and frequent unannounced cuts.

On Sunday evening, the dam level stood at 47.500 ft and the capacity at 16.275 tmcft. While the inflow was a meagre 2,360 cusecs, the outflow was kept at 12,649 cusecs so as to meet the requirements of delta farmers.

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Section  : Southern States
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