Evaporation rate at Irai dam to be closely watched

The state government has decided to closely monitor the evaporation rate of water in Irai dam on a weekly basis before taking a decision to shut down the Chandrapur Thermal Power plant by May 15 or earlier.

The decision was taken on Thursday at a meeting called by Energy minister Ajit Pawar. The Irai dam supplies drinking water to the city and is the major water supplier to the power station. As of now, the water in the reservoir stands at 198 metres, just 8% of the full capacity.

According to Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company officials, arrangements have been made to get approximately 1,150 Mw power from other power plants at Paras-Parli, Dhabol and a private power company. The Koyna Hydroelectric Power Station, which generates 1,940 Mw power, has been kept as the last option as there are some restrictions. “We can draw only 67.5 thousand million cubic (tmc) ft water in a year to generate electricity while the rest is reserved for irrigation purpose,” an official said. “Though we have saved 2/3 tmc ft from last year in Koyna, it will not be enough in case there are no rains as per schedule in the first week of June,” he added.