AGARTALA, July 12 (TIWN): The state government has speeded up its plan to renovate the Dumbur hydroelectric project at Amarpur sub division. As per the plan, the project which is producing six/seven MW power is expected to generate 10/12 MW power after implementation of the renovation plan. The TSECL have signed an agreement with NEEPCO for up gradation of the hydro project. Recently, engineers of NEEPCO visited the site. In course of the visit, engineers examined physical condition of the turbine, open channel and dyke.“The team has inspected Dumbur hydro project and conducted necessary study,” said a TSECL official.

Dumbur hydro electric project was commissioned in 1976 with an installed capacity of generating 10MW from its two units. A third unit of 5MW was subsequently installed in 1984 as a standby.

But the project has been jinxed from the start: It never generated power to capacity and during the last five years, the project has become unviable because of heavy siltation of the lake owing to large scale soil erosion from two surrounding hill ranges that have been heavily deforested.

During the protracted dry spells every year, the project comes to a grinding halt as the water level in the lake dips and the turbines do not get sufficient water to generate power.

Beside Dumbur, NEEPCO will also upgrade the power projects - 42 MW Barmura gas thermal power project, 63 MW Rukhia gas thermal power plants. As per the plan, the NEEPCO will convert two gas thermal power plants into combined cycle to increase its power generation capacity.