Sardar Sarovar dam starts overflowing

Vadodara: Sardar Sarovar Dam across Narmada river has started overflowing at Kevadia in Gujarat's Narmada district, following the release of water from Omkareshwar dam in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, officials said.

"Water level at Sardar Sarovar dam has reached 122.40 metres and is likely to increase up to 125.20 metres by tomorrow night," Superintending engineer of Sardar Sarovar Nrmada Nigam Ltd (SSNL), Rajendra G Kanungo, told PTI.

This follows the release of 1.75 lakh cusecs of water from Omkareshwar dam in Madhya Pradesh today, while more 3.85 lakhs cusecs is expected to be released from there (Omkareshwar dam), he said.

Currently, six main power-generating turbines of the Sardar Sarovar dam have become operational and are producing electricity at its full capacity.

"All the six units of river bed power house of 200 MW each have been generating power at its installed capacity because of the high flow of water in the river. The totalled installed capacity of the riverbed power house is 1200 MW," Kanungo said.

The total installed capacity of this hydropower station is 1450 MW (which includes five canal based power house at Sardar Sarovar dam), the official said, adding the level of water in the dam has been improving and has risen to 122.40 meters and the dam started over flowing after reaching to 121.92 meter.

All the six turbines of the river bed and four of the five canal-based power house come into operation due to early arrival of monsoon in the catchment areas in Madhya Pradesh, the official said.

The decision to operate all these turbines was taken after consultation with the Narmada Control Authority (NCA), he added.