NTPC unit at Kayamkulam unable to continue operations due to High Salinity Levels

C V Subramanian, general manager of the NTPC unit at Kayamkulam has said “The power production from the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) plant at Kayamkulam will be stopped as the high salinity in Achankovil remains unchanged,” .

Subramanian was speaking at the NTPC guest house at Kayamkulam on Monday. The National Thermal Power Corporation has been depending on water from  the Achankovil river for producing electricity. On a daily basis, the plant need around 18,000 kilolitres of water for power generation.

“Now we are unable to utilise the Achankovil River water owing to its high salinity. If the salinity continues, we will be forced to shut the plant till we get pure water from the river,” the general manager said.

The total production capacity is 350 megawatt and they can produce 330 megawatt daily if the plant receives pure water.

Owing to the high salinity in the river, one unit here had already been shut. Now the plant is generating only 150 megawatt power  which is being sold to Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB).  “We will completely stop the power generation after three days he said on Monday. The construction of bunds to prevent the seawater seepage is the only solution for the present crisis. Otherwise, we should get enough rain or water from dams should be released to the river in a controlled way,” said T C Anilkumar, NTPC deputy general manager (technical service).

The general manager said that the NTPC’ s technical wing had alerted the government about this crisis a few months ago. “Irrigation Department have taken initiative for the bund construction and the problem will be settled once this happens,” he added.