Phased Power Production in Bhakra Nangal O R the Purpose of Development an Installed Capacity of 864,000 KW Partment Has Almost Completed the F of Electrical Power

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THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY August 15, 1954 Phased Power Production in Bhakra Nangal O R the purpose of development an installed capacity of 864,000 KW partment has almost completed the F of electrical power. East Pun and a firm capacity of 438,000 KW wide net work of transmission and jab, Pepsu, Himachal Pradesh and at the lowest water level. This high sub-transmission lines to cover the Delhi and part of Rajasthan have power potentiality of Bhakra Nangal, territory in all parts of the State for been included in a single unit under interconnected with Jogindernagar supplying Nangal power. By 1955 the Bhakra Nangal project now in and Delhi power stations, will form Nangal power is expected to be an advanced stage of completion. the new unit of transmission and available to these load centres. With no indigenous source of fuel sub-transmission lines known as 'the Pepsu is expected to be ready by oil and distant location of collieries', Punjab Transmission System. then with its distribution system. the only source of generation of To understand the difference be- The Rajasthan Electricity Depart- cheap' power in the North-Western tween the firm capacity as against ment is completing its distribution part of India is water. With per installed capacity of an inter-con lines to connect load centres in ennial flow in her rivers, Punjab nected system such as of the Uhl- Rajasthan to Nangal power before is happily placed with respect to Bhakra Nangal-Delhi grid, one has 1956. water power. However, water- to take into consideration the perio- Hydro-power stations at Joginder- power had been scarcely developed dical shutdown of generators for nagar and Nangal and steam power for at the time of partition, Uhl overhauling. Moreover, for hydro- stations at Delhi will be connected river was the only source of hydro- generators the capacity of generation by 132/220 KV "trunk transmission power for the State. The only depends on the availability of water, circuit. In view of the large volume other large central power station in ie, both on the level and flow of of power and long distance over this area was Delhi. water. The Nangal dam would not which it is to be transmitted, it has The Jogindernagar hydro-station have enough perennial flow until been considered essential to adopt (48,000 KW) on Uhl river served the Bhakra reservoir is ready in a very high voltage transmission for the district towns of Kangra, Amrit- 1960. Therefore, out of 96,000 KW the operation of this project, the sar, Jullunder, Ludhiana, Ferozpore in two Nangal power houses, firm highest so far used in India, The and a large number of towns and load expectation is not more than total length of transmission lines of villages in this area. It also served 69,000 KW. Similarly in Bhakra, 220, 132, 66 and 33 KV is about Lahore which continues to obtain each of the 90,000 KW units will 1,5125 miles made up of: electricity from this source by an generate 53,000 KW at the lowest Indo-Pakistan Agreement, though working reservoir level, the output 222 KV — 200 miles the supply has been progressively increasing with the level of water 132 KV — 110 miles reduced to 5,000 KW this year, The to the maximum of 90,000 KW. 66 KV — 176 miles thermal power stations in Delhi have Moreover, in multipurpose sys 33 KV - 747 miles a combined generating capacity of tems, where irrigation is of prime In addition to these transmission 24,000 KW, The rest of Punjab importance, canals are closed for lines the project provides for 800 has been served by small diesel and inspection and repairs during off miles of 11 KV lines and a vast net steam power stations and over the agricultural months when demand work of 400 volts low tension lines whole area there have been, for past for water is lowest. During these for the distribution to consumers. many years, drastic restriction in periods of closure, shutdown of gene supply, demand being far in excess. rators becomes inevitable, The inter-connected power stations will be linked by Carrier telephone Under the Bhakra Nangal, pro Operational planning, however, communication which will enable ject power will be generated in two enables staggered shutdowns so that operation of all the power stations power houses at Nangal Hydel Chan of the total number of generators, under one central control. This nel and one at Bhakra Dam site. enough are worked and the maxi ensures maximum economy by in Nangal power house on completion mum capacity so available is the creased use of hydro-power and ele of the first stage with installation of rirm capacity of the system. The vation of firm capacity of the system. 12 units of 24,000 KW in each power firm capacity available from various hydro-electric installations of the Though the steam capacity at Delhi house will provide a. firm power of is restrained, total generation from Punjab transmission system is given 72,000 KW. With provision for in this station will be only a fraction in table below, stallation of one more similar set in of what it is now, as hydro-capacity Nangal hydro-power station Num each of the power houses, the firm increases, resulting in considerable ber I with installed capacity of power available will increase to saving in the cost of fuel. 120,000 KW, for by that time the 48.000 KW is expected to com Nangal Channel, will be assured a mence regular operation before the Another major economy that will perennial How which will enable end of this year. Number 2 power be derived from operating Joginder capacity generation from all the house at Nangal is expected to be nagar, Nangal and Delhi power-sta power stations. Bhakra Dam power ready by the end of 1955. The tions in an inter-connected system house has a provision for 8 stations Punjab Government Electricity De is the increase of firm load carrying of 90,000 KW each although, as will be discussed later, in the first stage, installation of only one or, two sets is contemplated. The firm capacity of each set in Bhakra Dam power house is expected to be 53,000 KW which will be the output during the lowest water level in the dam. The project thus has provision for 899 August 15, 1954

Punjab Transmission System — I 230/132 KV Transmission

Data for Lines on page 902

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Punjab Transmission System—II 33/11 KV Transmission

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DATA FOR PUNJAB TRANSMISSION SYSTEM —1

902 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY August 15, 1954 capacity, with the same total in that was appointed by the Planning the first 90,000 KW unit at stalled generating capacity. If the Commission to go into the question Bhakra. ' . stations were not inter-connected, of Bhakra power is of the opinion (2) Installation of first and se the shutdown of the largest gene that when the Bhakra dam is ready, cond 90,000 KW units at rating unit in each station for several the firm capacity of the system will Bhakra. weeks for annual overhaul would be 152,000 KW, which will be ade reduce the effective capacity of the quate for the capacity load increase The expansion would increase in stations to 33,000, 72,000 and 38,000 till 1961. stalled capacity of the system which, KW respectively. Working in the will be 188,000 KW at the end of same grid, the largest unit shutdown In designing the Nangal Power 1955, after completion of the second would still leave 164,000 KW in the, House, space has been provided for station at Nangal, to nearly 300.000 system or 21,000 KW more than one additional 24,000 KW unit in KW in both cases. Either program when the units are operated in cadi station. Similarly at Bhakra, me is expected to be adequate to dependently. the construction of the dam would meet requirements through next 12 Central Water and Power Corn- include civil work for part of the to 15 years and the Committee is of mission carried out load surveys power house. Therefore in both the opinion that it is not necessary from 1951 to 1953 in Punjab, Pepsu, cases, of her constructions to complete to decide immediately which capa installations of the generating units Rajasthan and Delhi, that is in all city expansion programme should can be carried our at any time later be adopted. To keep up with the the areas which will he served by on. This design feature would expansion of load, additional in the Punjab Transmission System. enable extension of the capacity of stalled capacity should be available The present load of the region served the system in economical stages by 1961 and therefore the Com by Jogindernagar and Delhi power until the lull potential capacity of mittee has recommended that deci stations and forecast of the demand two additional units of 24,000 KW sion regarding increased generating on the inter-connected system till and ten Bhakra 90.000 KW units is capacity may be postponed till the the end of 1964 has been shown in utilised. The cost of such extension, beginning of 1957. the table below. it is estimated, will be much lower The public electric supply power- than the cost of installation of steam In the meantime with the com stations in the areas to be served has stations, or that of undertaking new pletion of the two power stations at today a demand of 71.000 KW. projects. This will naturally mean Nangal the Punjab Transmission The load of prime mover installa lower cost of generation also. System will be in the happy posi tions consisting of SMALL diesel engines tion of not only having adequate or steam engines serving different To what extent the power require installed capacity to meet demand industries is 30.000 KW. As power ment of the area to he served by the from the area it has been planned from the Punjab Transmission system Bhakra-Nangal Project would be to serve, there would still be surplus would be cheaper than fuel costs, met in the forseeable future can best power available. The present they are expected to changeover to be appreciated from the estimate that agreement with Pakistan for supply the hydro-power. Starting with the has been made that addition of only of load to Lahore may therefore be estimated power supply of about two units at Bhakia would be more retained, on an yearly renewal 66 KW in 1952, with the relief in than adequate upto 1972, while the basis. The Punjab Transmission shortage provided by Nangal first design provides for 8 more units. System may also be usefully linked up with the Ganges Canal Trans stage the load is expected to increase To meet the increase in estimated mission System in UP. The UP from 85,000 KW in 1955 to 174,000 load after 1961, the 'Technical Com System includes thermal stations at. KW in 1964. mittee has considered two alternative Hardwaganj and Chandausi, and As the two power stations at programmes: Nangal go into operation in 1955. both these can be closed during the the Punjab Transmission System (1) Installation of two 24,000 period when surplus hydro-power is available, thereby saving con will have surplus power for several KW units, one at each power sumption of fuel. years. The Technical Committee house, at Nangal followed by August 15, 1954 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY

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