Tehri hydel project commissioned

It would generate about 1.16 billion units of electricity this fiscal, and 6.5 billion units once fully completed.

The Tehri hydel project was on Sunday dedicated to the nation with Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde formally commissioning its first unit of 250 MW.

HT Image

The function was however marred by the absence of Uttaranchal Chief Minister ND Tiwari, who apparently boycotted it for not being given prominence along with Shinde, official sources said.

The Rs 7500 crore Tehri project was first conceived in early-1970s but its construction began only in 1978.

The project was shelved in the mid-1980s following protests from locals and environmentalists but was revived soon after and handed over to Tehri Hydro Development Corporation in 1988.

The Tehri Hydro Power complex would eventually have a capacity of 2,400 MW which includes 1,000 MW Tehri dam and hydro power plant, the 1,000 MW Tehri pump storage plant and the 400 MW Koteshwar dam and power plant located on the confluence of Bhagirathi and Bhilangana rivers in Uttaranchal.

The project boasts of Asia's highest rock fill dam of 261 metres.

It would generate about 1.16 billion units of electricity this fiscal, which would go up to 6.5 billion units when the entire complex is completed.