TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Mumbai: The much-awaited Middle Vaitarna water supply project, which will augment the citys water supply to the point that, totally, 85% of Mumbais water needs are met, might now also generate enough power to light up a suburb of Mumbai.
The consultant in-charge of the project has recommended that the BMC should look at having a 34.5mw hydropower generation from the dam that would be constructed for the project. The final feasibility report on the hydropower generation was prepared in July 2007 by Mott Mac Donald Consortium.
Since Middle Vaitarna is not a commercial project, we are looking at generating power at a later stage after the completion of the water supply project in 2011, said an official from the BMCs water supply projects department. While the water supply project comes up to Rs 1,600 crore, the power generation cost an additional Rs 95 crore.
An earlier feasibility report by TCE Consulting Engineers (TCE) had said that BMC could generate 25mw of power. Considering the current power shortage, we are looking at generating about 34.5mw during eight hours of the peak time now, he said.
In May this year, the BMC had invited global tenders for constructing the 500-metrelong and 105-metre-high dam across the Vaitarna river in Thane district. The work on the dam is expected to start in December this year. The dam will be taller than any of those at the six existing reservoirs from where the city gets its water supply
toireporter@timesgroup.com
Publication:Times Of India Mumbai; Date:Oct 23, 2007; Section:Times City; Page Number:11
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