Amid its ongoing tussle with the Punjab government, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) is moving ahead with plans to outsource micro-hydel projects on its water resources to private players.
However, AAP leader Sanjeev Gautam from Nangal, who led the party’s dharna against BBMB and also serves as chairman of Guru Ravi Dass Ayurvedic Medical University, has strongly opposed the decision to outsource the project to private players. He asserted that the Punjab government would not support such a move, emphasising that the projects require only modest investment and the government is capable of investing in them.
Reportedly, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has proposed a 1.79 MW micro-hydel project at the Nangal Dam, which it intends to outsource to a private firm. The technical bidding process has already been completed, and tenders for project execution will be issued soon.
The project is designed to be developed on two plugged gates of the Nangal Dam. According to the proposal, a penstock will be drilled into these gates to harness hydropower from the environmental flow of the Sutlej River, which sees a release of approximately 500 cusecs of water from the dam to maintain ecological balance.
Another 1 MW micro-hydel project has been proposed along a section of the Bhakra Main Line (BML) canal, between the Ganguwal and Nakkian hydro projects. As part of the plan, four floating hydro-kinetic turbines of 250 kV each will be installed to collectively generate 1 MW of power. According to sources, tenders for this project have already been floated, and the execution will be handed over to a private entity.
In addition, the BBMB is looking to tap into solar energy by setting up solar power projects across its colonies in Nangal, Talwara, and Chandigarh. Work on a 4.7 MW rooftop solar power project in the Nangal and Talwara townships is already underway and is expected to be completed by the end of June, according to sources.
The BBMB is simultaneously ramping up efforts in the solar energy sector. It has initiated the process of setting up a 4.7 MW rooftop solar power system across its residential colonies in Nangal and Talwara, expected to be completed by the end of June. Another plan includes harnessing up to 16 MW through ground-mounted solar projects on vacant land across its projects. These will also be outsourced, with private investors developing the infrastructure and BBMB agreeing to buy back the generated power at negotiated rates.
Sources revealed that BBMB engineers have submitted proposals to enhance power generation by installing small hydro projects on existing dams and canals. These proposed projects are expected to be outsourced to private investors for execution.
However, the ongoing dispute with the Punjab government—seeking reconstitution of BBMB and reaffirming its 60 per cent ownership stake—could potentially impact the board’s plans to hand over micro-hydel projects to private entities.
Follow us
