Orissa plans modernisation of two hydel projects

Bhubaneswar: The Orissa government plans to take up modernisation of 5th and 6th unit of Burla Hydro-Electric Project (BHEP) and 3rd unit of Chipilima Hydro-Electric Project (CHEP) during the 11th five year plan period.

Residual Life Assessment of equipment used in the Balimela Hydro-Electric Project will also be taken up for modernization, energy minister Surya Narayan Patro said.

He said, the modernisation of 1st and 2nd unit of BHEP was completed raising the generation capacity from 37.5 Mw to 49.5 Mw. Similarly, the modernisation of the 3rd and 4th unit was taken up to enhance the generation capacity from 24 Mw to 32 Mw.

Modernisation and renovation of the 1st and the 2nd unit of Chipilima Hydro-Electric Project (CHEP) has been completed lengthening the longevity of these two units.

Stating that the hydro power generation has not declined in the state, the minister said, the hydro-electric projects contributed 5234 million unit in 2005-06, to 7354million units in 2006-07, and to 7883 million units last fiscal.