Anandpur Sahib hydel canal faces neglect, power generation takes hit

The canal has got choked with vegetation, frankincense threatening structure’s safety. Tribune photo

Anandpur Sahib hydel canal, a 34-km lifeline for hydroelectric procreation successful the region, is successful a authorities of terrible neglect.

The deteriorating information of the canal is not lone a motion of administrative apathy but besides a important contributor to the nonaccomplishment of crores of rupees successful gross for Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) owed to disrupted powerfulness generation.

The canal originates from Nangal and ends successful the Sutlej astatine Lohand Khad. It supplies h2o to 2 hydroelectric powerfulness houses — Ganguwal and Kotla — which unneurotic make astir 130 MW of power. The energy produced present is among the cheapest for the PSPCL, costing conscionable 30 paise per unit.

However, owed to deficiency of regular cleaning and maintenance, the canal is choked with vegetation.

PSPCL sources said it would beryllium hard to callback erstwhile the canal was cleaned comprehensively past time.

“Only 3 civilian helping employees person been tasked with maintaining the full 30 km stretch. One idiosyncratic tin efficaciously grip lone 1 km, truthful ideally 30 radical are needed,” said a PSPCL authoritative connected the information of anonymity.

The vegetation successful canal leads to predominant blockages, forcing the PSPCL to unopen down powerfulness procreation aggregate times a year. These shutdowns, referred to arsenic trashing incidents, effect successful the nonaccomplishment of hydroelectric powerfulness worthy crores annually, the sources said.

“The information has deteriorated to the constituent wherever regular attraction won’t suffice. A peculiar thrust is needed first. Then enactment successful a imperishable unit squad for regular upkeep,” said a elder engineer.

A connection to heighten the capableness of the canal and make an further 5 MW of powerfulness has been ignored by the higher authorities. Engineers astatine Ganguwal and Kotla person recommended expanding the canal’s water-carrying capableness by 1,000 cusecs with an concern of Rs 4 crore. If implemented, the insignificant upgrade could output important returns successful powerfulness generation.

Despite the debased concern outgo and wide economical benefit, the connection remains buried successful bureaucratic files.

Anandpur Sahib Hydel Channel SDO (Civil) Tejbir Singh, said, “There are fund and manpower constraints. We person conscionable 3 radical who are not successful a presumption to support 68 km (two sides of 34-km canal). We person sent a connection to prosecute manpower done outsourcing oregon for a peculiar tender to cleanable vegetation from wrong the canal. However, the connection has not yet been accepted by the higher authorities,” helium said.