1,000-MW Karcham Wangtoo hydel project to be operational from August 16

SHOLTU (HIMACHAL PRADESH): Jaiprakash Associates-promoted 1,000-MW Karcham Wangtoo hydel power project in Himachal Pradesh will be fully operational from August 16, three months ahead of schedule, managing director DP Goyal said.

The first 250-MW unit of the Karcham Wangtoo project had commenced operations in May this year, he said. The hydel project is a run-of-river project over the Sutlej in Kinnaur district.

Once fully operational, the project would generate 4,368 million units power, Goyal said. The host state is entitled to 12% free power from the project for first 12 years and 18%, subsequently. The project would also provide power to Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan.

With commissioning of Karcham Wangtoo hydroelectric project, Jaiprakash Group's total hydropower capacity will reach 1,700 MW. The group is operating two other plants - 300 MW Baspa hydropower project in Himachal Pradesh and 400 MW Vishnuprayag in Uttarakhand.