Malana
Malana hydropower plant utilizes the water from the Malana river.
The plant
Water is collected at the plant’s intake, consisting of a barrage head regulator, a desilter and a small concrete dam reservoir. It is then transferred via an underground headrace tunnel and steel surface penstock into the powerhouse at Chauki village. The plant is located about 24 km from the Bhuntar airport and about 500 km from Delhi by road. Power is transmitted to the Himachal Pradesh State’s Bajaura connection point via a high voltage transmission line built by the plant.
Operation
Malana is operated as a base load plant during the summer and rainy season (June-October), and as a peaking plant the rest of the year. The plant helps meet power shortages in the Northern region, presently estimated at about 1500 MW.
Construction
Construction of Malana Hydropower Plant was commenced in January 1999 and included several Indian contracts for civil works. BHEL supplied major electromechanical works. The plant was commissioned in July 2001.
Sustainable development
The project provided considerable employment for the local population during the construction phase.