Sambalpur: Lack of rain in June, Hirakud is unable to provide water, Hydropower generation is set to close

Sambalpur: The Hirakud Hydroelectric Power Plant is set to close when there is a high demand for electricity during the summer. The Burla and Chipilima hydroelectric power stations, which run on Hirakud water, generated only 17.583 MW of electricity in the last 24 hours (8am on Friday from 8am on Saturday). During this time, an average of 714 cubic feet (cusec) of water was released from the Hirakud Reservoir per second for power generation. Hydropower generation has been steadily declining at the two centers for the past few days. Both hydroelectric power stations could not generate electricity as much as they could during the monsoon season.

Hydroelectric power stations were put under increased pressure in April and May due to the disruption of thermal power generation this year. Excessive water was released from the Hirakud Reservoir, generating a small amount of electricity from the Burla and Chipilima centers. That is why the Hirakud water level is said to have dropped.

Debashis Mishra, general manager of the Odisha Hydropower Corporation, said the Burla Hydroelectric Power Station had six to seven units and three units in Chipilima. Other units in Burla will also be operational soon. Mr. Mishra hopes that hydropower generation from Hirakud will return to normal as soon as the rains come.