From Our Correspondent
JOWAI: The State Government’s claim that the Myntdu-Leshka Hydro electric project was not generating optimum power due to deficient inflow of water was busted on Friday when the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) engineers had to discharge water from the dam due to sudden rise in water level of the Myntdu river.
There were reports that engineers could not operate two units of Leshka since they tripped and this resulted in release of excess water which was not required for the two units.
However, the officials said that only the third unit of the project tripped due to lightning and is undergoing maintenance.
Engineers and staff of the MeECL at Leshka had to urgently release the water from the dam early morning at around 5 am on Friday.
Official sources informed that the water level rose suddenly due to heavy downpour in the past few days in Jaintia Hills.
“Due to heavy downpour in neighbouring area, the water level rose up between 1 m to 2 m in just fifteen seconds. Today morning (Friday) the water level at the Leskha dam has reached up to 617 m above the sea level. The inflow of the dam is 617 m,” the official said, while adding that sudden rise in water level is one of the chief characteristics of the Myntdu river.
“Whenever heavy rainfall occurs in any part of the district including Amlarem, Rymbai and also in Jowai, the water level rises up suddenly and when it reaches a certain level, the water has to be released in order to prevent any damage to the dam and other electrical components,” one of the MeECL officials informed.
Briefing this correspondent, the MeECL official further informed that the Leshka project is a ‘Run-off River Scheme’ which has no storage capacity and added that it was completely different from the Umiam Hydro Project, which is not a ‘Run-off River Scheme’.
He further informed that each of the three units (at the Power House) requires water flow of up to 15 cubic metres per second to run the Turbine for power generation.
The official also informed that the project is currently generating 84 MW of power.