Work begins on green power project along Narmada canal.

The construction work has started for a series of micro hydel turbines being set up on three of the proposed four Narmada branch canals which will generate 80 mega watts electricity. The Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL), which maintains Narmada canal network, plans to set up turbines at eighteen locations along its branch canal network to generate a total 85 MW electricity for captive use.

This is another first-of-its-kind green energy project of the SSNNL using its canal network. The project is being set up at an investment of Rs. 800 crore by P&R Infraprojects Limited and L&S Hydro Engineers Private Limited, the companies that won the tender to carry out civil and hydro works, respectively.

Recently, the SSNNL set up a 3.5-kilometre canal-top solar power project in Vadodara - a first-of-its-kind in the world - which became operational in October last year, generating 10 MW electricity. The project drew world attention with the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visiting the site in January this year. A feasibility study on the micro hydel project began in 2012 and 18 locations were figured out for the installation of turbines that could produce 0.5 MW to 0.75 MW electricity each. Experts said that the project has the potential to generate 80-100 MW electricity using potential sites along the Narmada branch canal network.


THE INDIAN EXPRESS