Hydropower station at Sardar Sarovar dam becomes operational

Power generation from Riverbed Powerhouse (RBPH) at the Sardar Sarovar dam on Narmada river has started after a gap of two years, with the release of water from the dam following good rainfall in the catchment areas, an official said on Sunday. The power plant became functional on Saturday.

Similarly, the hydropower project on Ukai dam, constructed across the Tapi river also became operational on Saturday after a gap of four years, the official said. Managing Director of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNL), Rajiv Kumar Gupta, said, "All the six units of the RBPH have started generating power at the installed capacity owing to high flow of water into the river since the last couple days. The total installed capacity of the project is 1,200 MW." "The RBPH was shut in 2017 but became operational on Saturday after a gap of two years. All the turbines of the RBPH and canal-based powerhouse came into operational due to heavy rains in the catchment areas in Madhya Pradesh," he added.

Over two years after the installation of gates on the Sardar Sarovar Dam, the Gujarat government on Friday opened 26 of its total 30 gates following heavy inflow of water from upstream. "Ukai power station at Ukai dam on Tapi river near Surat also became functional after a gap of four years," Gupta said.