Date:21/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/21/stories/2008092154660600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Frequent fault in water turbines annoys farmers

Staff Reporter

TNEB, however, contests farmers’ claim

Water flowing into LBP gets affected
Fault attended to within a couple of hours: TNEB

ERODE: Farmers having lands under the Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) ayacut have urged the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) to take better care of its water turbines across the project canal.

The electricity board has two turbines across the canal. Each of the turbines produce electricity up to four MW (mega watt) by using the water released from the Bhavani Sagar Dam in to the canal.

The farmers’ objection to the turbines is that they frequently go faulty, due to which the water flow into the canal gets affected.

The arrangement at the power generation place is that if the turbines go faulty, the shutter closes down, arresting water flow.

The farmers say because of the frequent faults at the turbine, the water flow gets affected, which in turn has an impact on the farmers at the tail end of the canal.

The PWD releases about 2,300 cusecs water in to the canal.On September 15 the turbines went faulty affecting water flow.

The TNEB authorities, however, contest farmers’ claim.

While acknowledging that on September 15 that the turbines went faulty, they maintain that they attended to it within a couple of hours. They also deny farmers’ charge that the turbines get frequently affected.

As for PWD officials say there is very little they could do about the turbines.

They add that, however, there in close touch with the TNEB officials to ensure that the disruption in water supply, if any, is to the minimum.