Face of Nation : Since August 10 this year when the Riverbed Powerhouse (RBPH) of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam turned functional, it has generated 7,45,000 megawatts of electricity, operating at full capacity after a gap of two years. With a steady inflow of water into the reservoir at an average of 5 lakh cusecs owing to heavy rains, the powerhouse has been able to restart operations.
RBPH is an underground power house stationed on the right bank of the river, located about 165 metres downstream of the dam. It has six number of Francis-type reversible turbine generators each of 200 MW installed capacity. These units can operate at a minimum reservoir water level of 110.64 meters.
The CHPH, on the other hand, is a surface power station in a saddle dam on the right bank of the reservoir having a total installed capacity of 250 MW (5 x 50 MW).
The CHPH is operated regularly in consultation and as per advice of NCA/WREB based on irrigation requirement of Gujarat/Rajasthan and availability of water in the reservoir and release from the upstream project of Madhya Pradesh.
