BBMB incurs ₹100cr loss due to delay in power unit repair
Launches probe into negligence as deadline for making the 157 MW power unit of Bhakra dam project operational ended on March 3
CHANDIGARH : The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) incurred losses to the tune of Rs 100 core due to delay in overhauling work at a 157 megawatt (MW) power generation unit of the Bhakra dam project and has started a probe into the negligence.
The board has admitted to have faced a daily loss of Rs 70 lakh as the unit number 7 has been non-operational for months. The inquiry was launched at least 10 days ago to ascertain the reasons behind the delay and ensuing losses as the unit was to be restarted on March 3.
A private company was given the maintenance work of the unit in October 2020 with a timeframe of six months. It is still not clear as how long will it take to resume the operations, officials said.
The Bhakra dam has 10 power generation units. With another unit also under repair, only eight are in functional at present.
The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) was keen on restarting the unit owing to peak load season in June. The private company that was given the work order for Rs 1.67 crore has maintained that it was unable to make the unit number 7 operational due to some snag in the parts as an entire turbine had to be dismantled twice.
“For repair work of the parts, the process to incur additional work cost of Rs 30 lakh was initiated, to which the board’s finance department raised objections. It asked the power generation department to complete the work as per the provisions and rates agreed to in the initial tender,” said a BBMB official.
Another board official said, “Due to the delay, a penalty of Rs 34 lakh penalty imposed on the private company. It is not practically possible to run all 10 generation units as the basic function of the Bhakra dam is to regulate flow of water and power generation depends on the amount of water flowing from the penstocks.”
Process to incur additional work cost of Rs 30 lakh was initiated, to which the board’s finance department raised objections. It asked to complete the work as per the provisions A BBMB OFFICIAL