Power production resumed at the Ballari Thermal Power Station (BTPS) on Sunday with a 700-megawatt unit being made operational, after the authorities concerned permitted BTPS to lift water from the Tungabhadra reservoir Low-level canal near Kampli that was released for drinking purposes.
Power production at BTPS, with three units — two 500 MW and one 700 MW — came to a standstill in the first week of June last for want of water. Of the three units, one 500 MW unit was functional then and the others had fallen silent much earlier.
Recycled water from Maralihalla in Gangavati taluk was the main source of water for BTPS.
But Maralihalla went dry due to failure of rain and water could not be released from the Tungabhadra dam for cultivation of a second crop for two years in succession.
Later, the State government, to ensure that power production was not hit, permitted lifting of water from the canal and also when water was released for drinking water purposes with which only one 500 MW unit was being operated.
BTPS, with the facility to draw water from the low-level canal, has begun drawing its quota of water of 0.51 tmcft and impounding it into its reservoir within the plant premises. As of now around 21 lakh cubic metres of water has been stored, which will last about 21 to 25 days to run one unit.
“We are currently able to generate around 425 megawatt from the 700 MW unit and we would gradually increase production. We are waiting for the Tungabhadra Irrigation Consultative Committee to meet and announce the date for release of water for cultivation so that we would be able to draw the recycled water from Maralihalla to make the other units operational,” S. Mrutyunjana, Executive Director, told The Hindu .
