Power from Sardar Sarovar Is it worth it? - Dr Ravi Kuchimanchi, Mumbai Dam Reached: 110.6 mts in: June 2004. (height at which electricity is generated). Units generated until end of Feb 2006 as per Sardar Sarovar Nigam Website: 2162.334 MU Months elapsed from June 2004 to Feb 2006: 20 Months Average Power Generated in 20 Months: 2162 / (20 months x 30 days/month x 24 hrs/day) = 150 MW Maharashtra 's Share Generated: 27% x 150 = 40 MW. Considering T&D losses of 50% end user in Maharashtra would have received just 20 MW. Power Capacity at 110 mts: Installed capacity at 138 mts of SSP dam = 1200 MW (River Bed Power House) + 250 MW (Canal Head power House) = 1450 MW Corresponding figure for 110 mts: ~1200 (110 – 20) (138 – 20) + 250 (110 – 100) (138 – 100) = 915 MW (Riverbed power House) + 90 MW (Canal Head Power House) ~ 1000 MW. ***Of 1000 MW possible capacity at 110.6 mts only 150 MW were actually generated!!! *** Reason for low power from SSP is not the height of the dam because even at 110.6 mts we are not getting the maximum possible power!! Was it fair to leave people unrehabilitated in the submergence zone when the power stations were not all installed and there is not enough water in the Narmada to work at the design installed capacity? Likewise the irrigation canals are not completed in Gujarat . How much more power would SSP have generated had it been 121.9 mts instead of 110.6 mts? This is a 10 % increase in height and since electricity goes proportionally to height, it would have generated only a similar increase in power – since the power houses have an elevation it would have led to about 15% increase in power – which is equally insignificant considering average power generated was very small anyway. 15 % (150 MW) = 22.5 MW. (Maharasastra's share would have been 27 % of this = 6 MW additional power at 121.9 mts when compared to power generated at 110.6 mts.) Even if in some months after rainy season the dam generates more power the average over the year is very small for us to be gung-ho about this dam and violate human rights. Moreover Maharashtra needs to pay thousands of crores of rupees for the meagre power it is getting! Already it had paid Rs 473 crores by March 2003. For the 40 MW generated this is much more costly than usual hydro-projects and is comparable to wind power where there is no displacement. 33 adivasi villages in Maharashtra are being submerged by the SSP incurring huge environmental and social costs as well. Maharashtra should express distress at the fact that the dam was hurried to 110.6 mts while benefits that should have accrued at that height lagged considerably. It should seek for stoppage of work on dam from 110.6 mts to 121.9 mts until the rehabilitation is actually done as per Tribunal Award and Supreme Court orders of Oct 2000 and March 2005. Also note that SSP power is a temporary benefit. Once irrigation canals are completed and Narmada waters are diverted to the canals the River Bed Power House (from which bulk of SSP power comes) is supposed to generate ZERO power as there will be no water flowing downstream of SSP and it will all be going to canals. -