PULICHINTALA: Heavy rain in the Musi catchment area in Nalgonda district has given TSGenco enough water to generate power at the Pulichintala hydroelectric power project for the first time after its construction. The water level at the K.L. Rao Sagar Pulichintala irrigation project, which is under the control of the AP government, reached 48 metres; power can be generated if the water crosses the 42-m mark.
TS Genco has decided to start power generation in one of the four units of the 120 MW project on September 22. TSGenco superintendent engineer K. Sadguna Kumar said: “For want of civil works, this project has been delayed by two and a half years. We will synchronise unit-1 of the project on September 22 or 23. We had successfully tested the mechanical spinning on August 29. The protection of generator works is in progress and we are charging the switch yard. The power generated will be connected to the grid at Sitarampuram near Kodad. The second unit will also be operational by the second week of November.”
“Based on hydrological studies, by next season we will be able to operate all four units for nine months, except in case of scanty rainfall.” “Power generation depends on the crop schedule of AP. We will work on this with mutual understanding with the farmers. Instead of releasing water through the gates, if it can be passed through the hydro power project, it will generate power and the water will be discharged into the river,” he said.
