Alstom-HCC Consortium again has put THDC India Ltd in a spot through its slow pace of work at Tehri pumped storage power project. It was only in May the consortium was taken to task for slow pace of work by THDC, but those words have failed to have its impact on the progress of the project, if the present pace of work is any indication. According to THDC, even after 25 months of commencement of work, the consortium has been able to complete only 10% of the work.
Alstom-HCC Consortium’s slow pace of work has its cascading effect on overall project also. THDC believes that non finalisation of drawings and layout of power house, slow progress in adits, delay in procurement of material of EM & HM equipments are all contributing to slow progress of works. THDC is also worried by the resistance of the consortium in augmenting resources to make up for the shortfall already taken place, despite several requests made by the company. THDC has reportedly requested the consortium to deploy equipments/ machines, manpower and arrangement of material at site as per requirement of contract conditions.
The Tehri Pumped Storage Power project is the second stage of Tehri hydro electric power project. The project involves construction of an underground machine hall on the left bank of river Bhagirathi and installation of four reversible pump turbine units of 250 MW each. The main feature of the Project is the large variation of about 90 m between the maximum and minimum head, under which the reversible units shall operate. The operation of Tehri PSP is based on the concept of recycling of water discharged between upper reservoir to lower reservoir. The Tehri Dam reservoir shall function as the upper reservoir and Koteshwar reservoir as the lower balancing reservoir. The plant will operate on a pumped storage concept.
