Now Reading: Andhra’s second-largest hydel plant ready by November in Polavaram
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Andhra’s second-largest hydel plant ready by November in Polavaram
Andhra Pradesh's Polluru Hydroelectric Power Station in Polavaram district will become the state's second-largest hydel plant by November, with two new 115-MW units being built at a cost of Rs 536 crore.…
Andhra Pradesh's Polluru Hydroelectric Power Station in Polavaram district will become the state's second-largest hydel plant by November, with two new 115-MW units being built at a cost of Rs 536 crore. The expansion will raise the plant's total capacity to 690 MW, second only to the Srisailam Left Bank station's 770 MW.
The project for six units was conceived 55 years ago but only four were built due to low water levels in the Donkarayi Power Canal. The state government approved the second-phase expansion in 2020. About 80% of concrete works are finished and rotor installation for Unit 5 is under way.
AP Genco Managing Director Nagalakshmi and Hydel Director Sujay Kumar are reviewing progress. Chief Engineer K Venkata Raja Rao said efforts are on to complete the project by November.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Polluru expansion addresses a long-standing gap in Andhra Pradesh's hydro capacity. The original design for six units was shelved half a century ago because the Donkarayi Power Canal, which feeds the station, had insufficient water levels. The 2020 approval came after sustained local advocacy by AP Genco engineers. When the two new units go online, Polluru will supply 690 MW, enough to power roughly 2.5 lakh households. The Srisailam Left Bank station, at 770 MW, remains the state's largest. The November deadline will test whether the coalition government, which energised the project, can deliver infrastructure on schedule. AP Genco's managing director and hydel director are both personally tracking progress, signalling the political stakes attached to this project.
Source: newindianexpress.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
