Koyna plant functioning at half its capacity

Owing to water scarcity in the state and growing heat, the state’s biggest hydro power plant Koyna has been forced to reduce its generation to half of its capacity. Though the state government has claimed to have surplus power, it is apprehensive that thermal plants might get affected due to water crunch in the backdrop of drought.

The Parli thermal power plant has been shut from July 2015 owing to lack of water supply. Three 210 MW units and two 250 MW units at Parli have been shut down. A thermal plant of 500 MW requires 36,240 mld of water a day.

The state at present is facing severe water crisis and as per policy, drinking water is the priority followed by agriculture.

“The Koyna has capacity of 105 tmc water, of which 67.5 tmc is required for power generation. However, owing to evaporation and overall water crunch, it has been left with only 45 tmc water storage,” an official from the energy department said.

“The Koyna plant is partially active and this will affect power generation in Konkan region. But overall we have surplus power as the state is managing it from other sources and there is no load shedding at present” the official added. The Koyna Hydro Electric Project Stage I and II has capacity of 600 MW power generation, Stage III has capacity 320 MW and Stage IV has four units each with 250 MW.

The state’s actual generation is less than the requirement and it is managing the power deficit with the help of power from the central grid and private companies. “The MAHAGENCO generates 4,500 to 5,000 MW. The state gets another 4,500 to 5000 MW from the central grid, 2000 MW from Adani, 750 MW from Rattanindia Power Limited as per the agreements made earlier. The remaining required power is taken from power exchange,” the official added.

Though the state has claimed to have surplus power supply, its own generation is only 4,500 MW

from Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited while demand is about 16,000 to 17,000 MW.