December 29, 2006	Friday	Zilhaj 07, 1427

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HYDERABAD, Dec 28: Jamshoro thermal power house authorities have informed the general manager (thermal) of Wapda that different values of water of the Indus river are increasing due to release of poisonous water of the Manchhar lake into the river.

They said that if the readings crossed acceptable limits then three units of the thermal power house would be closed which would amount to shortfall of around 600 megawatts of electricity to the national grid, reliable sources informed Dawn on Thursday.“At present only three units are engaged in power generation, contributing around 500 to 600 megawatts of electricity to the national grid, but if different values of the river water, used in power house cross acceptable limits then we will have to close the units. We have informed Wapda headquarters accordingly”, said the source.

The power house authorities prepared demi water (demineralised water) for the using same in plant.

They lift raw water from the Indus river and then treat it in their own laboratory.

Ever since the release of Manchhar lake’s water into the Indus river to protect its embankments, different readings of water are showing progression though they are in acceptable limits so far.

On Thursday, conductivity in water was recorded at 360 MS/CM (micro simen/centi metre square) while chlorides were recorded at 25 to 30 and total hardness in water is around 130 part per million (PPM).

Source said that conductivity’s acceptable limit was not beyond 700 MS/CM, chloride at 15 to 20 and hardness in water should not be beyond 110 PPM.

“When the readings start showing progression then we have to use excessive quantity of chemical which is too expensive. Our plant requires pure water and by preparing demi water we make quality of water absolutely pure”, said the source.

In May 2004, the thermal power house suffered a loss of Rs158.5757 million due to non-generation of 600 megawatts of electricity in the wake of closure of three units between May 15 and 20, 2004.

The conductivity in water in May 2004 was recorded at around 3,200 MS/CM, total hardness at 500 PPM and chlorides at 585, leaving authorities with no option but to close the power house.

The rated capacity each of the three Chinese-units is 210 mega-watts while that of Japanese is 250 mega-watts.

The power house was commissioned in 1990-91 and it now needed capacity improvement.

Each of the Chinese unit is producing 170 megawatts while Japanese unit is producing 200 megawatts.

At present unit-II is lying closed due to a fire incident that took place on December 4.

The GM Thermal, Wapda headquarter was informed that in case lake’s water was released gradually and through a proper mechanism as had been suggested by district government then river water could easily be treated within the plant involving normal cost of chemical but in case it was released with full capacity and there were no inflows from Sukkur down stream then it would certainly pollute quality of water of Indus river.

Source pointed out that during these days of shortfall of electricity power house closure would be a great loss in energy sector therefore it was necessary that Manchhar lake's water should be released through a process to match the ratio as had been suggested by water expert.