Bleak scenario: State’s hydel storage second-lowest in last 10 years
The deficit monsoon has already cast its shadow over Karnataka’s power sector, with the State’s present hydel storage being the second-lowest in the last 10
The deficit monsoon has already cast its shadow over Karnataka’s power sector, with the State’s present hydel storage being the second-lowest in the last 10 years. The cumulative storage in all the three major hydel reservoirs of the State — Linganamakki, Supa, and Mani — accounted for a mere 14.9% of the full capacity at 8 a.m. on Friday (July 3), as against 44.05% of storage during the corresponding period last year. The only other time in the last 10 years when hydel storage was lesser than this level was in 2023, when the State was gripped by a serious drought. At that time, the total hydel storage accounted for a mere 12.55%, according to the statistics available with the Energy Department. Only 14.88% Though the hydel storage stood at only 14.88% at the corresponding period in 2022 too, the heavy rains in the catchment areas had pushed up the storage to 15.65% by the next day itself and to 44.8% by mid-July then.
As of now, the cumulative storage in the three hydel reservoirs could help generate only 1,295 million units of power as against 3,828 million units during the corresponding period of the previous year. The reservoir-wise breakup of storage reflects a bleak picture, with Linganamakki dam accounting for only 10.92% of storage as against 45.4% during the corresponding period last year. The reservoir has reported inflows to the tune of 11,485 cusecs as against 45,070 cusecs during the corresponding period last year. Supa dam too has just 20.18% of storage as against the previous year’s level of 41.25%, and inflows of 1,825 cusecs against last year’s 36,872 cusecs. Mani dam too presents a similar scenario by accounting for a poor storage of just 16.4% as against previous year’s 46.83%.
Worse, there are no inflows to this reservoir as of now. For peak management Power experts and officials fear that the State’s power sector may face cascading problems if the storage scenario does not improve. “Karnataka depends heavily on hydel energy for effective management of its peak load. Also, the hydel energy is very economical when compared with other forms of power. Hence, any further failure of monsoon may affect the peak hour management of power supply and also force the State to buy additional power from costly sources to tide over shortage in the later stages,” observed an official, adding a rider that one has to wait for at least a couple of months to arrive at any conclusion. The officials point out that robust hydel storage fuelled by heavy rains last year had helped the State to effectively manage the peak load even when the demand had touched a record 18,650 MW during summer months.
The BriefWire