Floods trip power generation in HP, Uttarakhand

State-owned National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) today informed the stock exchanges that due to cloudburst and unprecedented high floods in Uttarakhand, water had entered into the Dhauliganga Power Station (280 MW) and submerged all the systems on 17 June.

The heavy rains that ravaged many parts of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have hit hydel power generation, with many power companies stalling their operations due to high silt content in water.

Efforts are underway to restore the generation at the earliest. Additionally, various ancillary structures of the project, like roads, residential and non-residential buildings had suffered damage. The communication and power supply had been disrupted in the power house, dam, colony and other project areas.

While the extent of damage was being assessed, according to Jaiprakash Power Ventures, during the onset of monsoon, Uttarakhand including district Chamoli the site of the company's 400 MW Vishnuprayag Hydro-power plant had witnessed very heavy rains causing unprecedented flooding of very high intensity and the excessive silt, boulders and other materials in the Alakananda river, had caused disturbances to river protection works that led to shutdown of barrage operations and power generation with effect from 16 June.

"While the company was taking effective steps to restore generation, assessment of damages due to the said flood conditions would be made after restoration of commutation and connectivity to barrage site," the company said in a statement.

Meanwhile Alaknanda floods had resulted in Force Majeure event for 400 MW Vishnuprayag Project, commercial aspects of which would be addressed in accordance with power purchase agreement between Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) and the company.

According to both companies, the projects were covered under All Risk Insurance Policy.

Meanwhile, shares of Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd today fell by over 15 per cent after its 400 MW Vishnuprayag hydro-power plant in district Chamoli, Uttarakhand shut down following heavy rain in the state, PTI reported.

Following the news, shares of the company opened the day on a weak note 15.19 per cent to Rs 17.30 -- its all-time low on the BSE as the trade progressed. The scrip was down  14.56 per cent to a one- year low of Rs 17.30 on the NSE. 

"Unprecedented floods in river Alaknanda has resulted in Force Majeure event for 400 MW Vishnuprayag Project, commercial aspects of which shall be addressed in accordance with Power Purchase Agreement between Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) and the company," Jaiprakash Power Ventures said in a filing to the BSE.