Chandigarh, June 5 — Power generation capacity of hydro electric projects run by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), including the Bhakra dam and the Pong dam, is to be upgraded under the second phase of a Centrally-sponsored scheme.

Almost 200 mega watt (MW) capacity will be added in a phased manner to the BBMB projects over the next 30 months.

This year the Government of India has approved Rs 1,000 crore for renovation , modernisation and uprating (R, M and U) of hydro power stations across the country. In case of the BBMB, a major supplier of power in this part of the country, a total upgradation of 324 MW was planned. On the other hand, in the first phase, about 125 MW of generating capacity has been added to the BBMB projects. The project under the second phase will also help in partly bridging the gap in supply and demand that has occurred due to the delay in the Ranjit Sagar project and the growing demand for power from all States.

The project has to be carried out in phased manner as the R, M and U work can be carried out only during the lean generation period. Only one machine has to be taken up at a time as shutting up of all machines is not advisable.

In total the upgrading — or uprating as it is referred to by the engineers — will cost the BBMB Rs 196 crore. This translates into Rs 60 lakh per MW. Sources said this cost is much cheaper as a new dam costs almost Rs 4 to 5 crore MW it generates.

A standing sub-committee of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) held a meeting in Delhi about 10 days ago to finalise the scope of work of several hydro projects including those of the BBMB.

The BBMB will be pumping in 30 per cent of the money while the rest will be through loans and grants of the Central Government. All of the BBMB projects at the Bhakra, Pong, Ganguwal and Kotla are being upgraded. The one at Dehar cannot be upgraded as it is run of the river project and no reservoir is involved.

All other projects are run on water stored in reservoirs.