Tata Power's 1050 MW Maithon Mega Power Project commissions its second unit

of 525 MW
- Mumbai, Delhi, July 24, 2012
Tata Power, India's largest integrated power utility, today announced commissioning
of its second unit of 525 MW (Unit 2) of its Maithon Mega Power Project in Dhanbad,
Jharkhand under the requisite standard requirements. The first Unit of 525 MW (Unit
1) was commissioned in September 2011. The period between Unit 1 and 2, has
been higher on account of delays in Coal logistic & coal tie up for both units.
Maithon Power Limited (MPL), the 74:26 Joint Venture between Tata Power and
Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) has implemented 2 x 525 MW coal-fired power
project power in Jharkhand. MPL is the first successful public-private partnership in
green field generation project in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Anil Sardana, Managing Director, Tata Power
Limited, said, We are happy to declare Commercial Operation for the second unit
at Maithon Power Project. This project further reiterates successful public private
partnership in power generation in the country. We are thankful to DVC, the
Government of Jharkhand and other stakeholders for their support throughout the
project.
Speaking on this milestone, Mr. Bhaskar Sarkar, CEO, Maithon Power Limited,
said, The commissioning of Maithon 525 MW Unit 2 is a significant milestone. We
are happy to have completed the project inspite of huge challenges like availability
and transportation of coal. I take this opportunity to thanks all the employees at
Maithon, DVC team, all stakeholders, our community, business associates and
partners who have contributed to this success.
Spread over a total land of 1200 acres, MPL has signed the Power Purchase
Agreements and power evacuation arrangement has been put in place by Power
Grid Corporation of India Limited. In addition to supplying power to DVC, power from
MPL will be exported to power deficit northern states of India.
MPL in line with Tata Powers philosophy has also begun the journey of community
development to address developmental needs of its neigbouring communities. The
initiatives span the theme of education, income generation and livelihood,
infrastructure and institution building.
Some of MPLs noticeable efforts include Education Excellence Program which has
led to overall improvement in quality of education in 262 villages, reaching out to
around 13600 students, Focused livelihood intervention which helped around 400
farmers to adopt improved agriculture practices, and Self Help Group initiative
providing support to 88 tribal women by initiating bamboo based enterprises, and
infrastructures pertaining to water conservation and availability, where around 23
ponds were renovated along with constructions of many other water bodies.
About Maithon Power Project:
Maithon Power Limited (MPL), a 74:26 joint venture between The Tata Power
Company Limited (Tata Power) and Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) being set up
in Dhanbad District of Jharkhand State. Maithon Power Project is a Mega Power
Plant of 1050 MW, green field coal based generation project located at Maithon in
the state of Jharkhand. The site is about 250 km from Jamshedpur & Ranchi and
25km from Asansol. In addition to supplying power to DVC, power from the Maithon
Project is to be exported to power deficit northern states.
About Tata Power:
Tata Power is Indias largest integrated power company with a significant
international presence. The Company has an installed generation capacity of 6099
MW in India and a presence in all the segments of the power sector viz Generation
(thermal, hydro, solar and wind), Transmission, Distribution and Trading. It has
successful public-private partnerships in Generation, Transmission and Distribution
in India namely Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited" with Delhi Vidyut Board for
distribution in North Delhi, 'Powerlinks Transmission Ltd.' with Power Grid
Corporation of India Ltd. for evacuation of Power from Tala hydro plant in Bhutan to
Delhi and 'Maithon Power Ltd.' with Damodar Valley Corporation for a 1050 MW
Mega Power Project at Jharkhand. It is one of the largest renewable energy players
in India and is developing countrys first 4000
MW Ultra Mega Power Project at Mundra (Gujarat) based on super-critical
technology. Its international presence includes strategic investments in Indonesia
through 30% stake in coal mines and a geothermal project; in Singapore through
Trust Energy Resources to securitise coal supply and the shipping of coal for its
thermal power generation operations; in South Africa through a joint venture called
Cennergi to develop projects in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia; in Australia
through investments in enhanced geothermal and clean coal technologies and in
Bhutan through a hydro project in partnership with The Royal Government of Bhutan.
With its track record of technology leadership, project execution excellence, world
class safety processes, customer care and driving green initiatives, Tata Power is
poised for a multi-fold growth and committed to 'lighting up lives' for generations to
come. Visit us at: www.tatapower.com

Maithon Hydel Power Station is located on the river Barakar about 12.9 km above its
confluence with the Damodar near the border of Dhanbad and Burdwan districts of
the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal respectively. The unique feature of this
Hydel Power Station is that it is located underground in the left bank of the river and
is the first of its kind in India. The Power Station has a total generating capacity of
60 MW with 3 units of 20 MW each.
Details of Maithon Hydel Power Station
Gen.
Unit
Name of
Manufacturers
Original
capacity
(MW)
Present
capacity
(MW)
Year of
commissioning
Special features
Turbine Generator
1 Neypric Siemens 20 20 Oct., 1957 Horizontal shaft
Francis Turbine
2 Neypric Siemens 20 20 Mar., 1958
3 Neypric Siemens 20 20 Dec., 1958



Maithon Dam
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Maithon Dam


Location in Jharkhand
Country India
Location Dhanbad District, Jharkhand
Coordinates
23511N 864640E23.85028N
86.77778ECoordinates: 23511N
864640E23.85028N 86.77778E
Status Functional
Opening date 1957
Owner(s) Damodar Valley Corporation
Dam and spillways
Impounds Barakar River
Height 165 ft (50 m)
Length 15,712 ft (4,789 m)
Width (base) 10.67 metres (35.0 ft)
Reservoir
Creates Maithon Lake
Surface area 65 square kilometres (25 sq mi)
Power station
Operator(s) Damodar Valley Corporation

Inauguration plaque of Maithon Dam
The Maithon Dam (Hindi: ) is located at Maithon, 48 km from Dhanbad, in the
state of Jharkhand. It is 15,712 ft (4,789 m) long and 165 ft (50 m). high.
[1]

This dam was specially designed for flood control and generates 60,000 kW of electric
power. There is an underground power station, the first of its kind in the whole of South East
Asia. The dam is constructed on the Barakar River. The lake is spread over 65 square
kilometres (25 sq mi).
[1]

Contents
[hide]
1 DVC-Damodar Valley Corporation
2 Prospects and opportunities
3 Maithon
4 History
5 Operation
6 Maithon Hydel
7 Reservoir operation
8 Problems
9 Flood warning
10 References
11 External links
DVC-Damodar Valley Corporation[edit]

Damodar Basin
DVC is the first-ever multipurpose river valley project of independent India which came into
being on July 7, 1948 by an act of Constituent Assembly (Act no. XIV of 1948). DVC has its
command area of approx 24,235 km spreading across the Damodar basin. The upper valley
consists of two entire districts (Dhanbad and Bokaro) and eight districts partly in the state of
Jharkhand. The lower valley on the other hand consists of five districts partly (Burdwan,
Hooghly, Bankura, Howrah and Purulia) in the state of West Bengal.
DVC was set up with the intent of promoting and operating the schemes which may cause
social and economic uplift in the valley region. The difficult but effective water management
by the corporation has turned the devastating river Damodar from a River of Sorrow to a
River of opportunities.
[citation needed]

Prospects and opportunities[edit]
Proficient management of water resources through dams, canals and barage, DVC facilitated
irrigation as well as industrial and domestic water supply which at large benefited the region
as a whole. DVC has been generating, transmitting & distributing electrical energy since
1953 and has succeeded not only in meeting the expectation of consumers but has also
elevated its height in its performance.The full form of DVC is Damodar valley corporation
and since it uses its main source of water form the Damodar dam it is named so.
Maithon[edit]
52 km from Dhanbad, Maithon is termed as mothers abode. It has the biggest reservoir in
DVC. Conceived on the lines of Tennessee Valley, USA it has been designed for flood
control & generates 60,000 kW of electric power. It is built on the river Barakar.
It has its unique underground power station, the first of its kind in South Asia. The lake is
spread over an area of 65 km. It is 15,712 ft (4,789 m). long & 165 ft (50 m) high.
The dam's mission comprises:
flood Control
promotion & operation of schemes for irrigation
water supply for domestic & industrial use
navigation & drainage
generation, transmission & distribution of electrical energy.
History[edit]
In 1942, during the course of World War II, a flood occurred in the Damodar valley region
that cut Calcutta off from the rest of the country for a period of 10 weeks. Soon the
government sprang into action & called Mr. W.L.Voord, a civil engineer of Tennessee Valley
Authority (TVA). He designed the plan of the dams by 1945. Finally the first dam of
independent India came up on July 7, 1953 at Tilaiya. Soon Konar, Maithon & Panchet Dam
followed in its footsteps in 1955, 1957 and 1959 respectively.
Operation[edit]
Damodar river is a seasonal river, basically 82% of which is filled up by rainfall in July
September. 1 June to 31 October is the filling period during which rainwater is stored and the
stored rainwater is used for irrigation by the downstream areas of Burdwan, hydroelectric
power generation and scores of other activities......
Maithon Hydel[edit]
Maithon Hydel Power Station (MHPS) is located on the river Barakar about 12.9 km above
its confluence with the Damodar near the border of Dhanbad & Burdwan districts of the
states of Jharkhand & West Bengal respectively. The unique feature of this is that it is located
underground in the left bank of the river and is the first of its kind in India. The power station
has a total generating capacity of 60 MW with 3 units of 20 MW each. MHPS is located at
almost 1000 feet below the water level,and is the first of its kind, in South East Asia.
Reservoir operation[edit]
A vast hydro meteorological station with VHF/wireless facilities exists over the Damodar
catchment area. On a real time basis (hourly, 3 hourly, 6 hourly) data of river gauge, rainfall
river discharge are measured and transmitted through existing communication network to the
central flood station at Maithon. The Indian Meteorological Department(IMD), Kolkata,
transmit the rainfall forecast for the next 24 hours for the entire Damodar Valley region to
Maithon. A computer model at the Flood Forecasting Unit(FFU) at Maithon estimates the
inflow into the reservoirs based on the real time data & rainfall forecast of IMD.
According to detailed guidelines contained in the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation
Manual, Member Secretary of DVRRC (Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee)
after discussion with SE, Damodar Irrigation Circle Govt. of West Bengal, Reservoir
Operation of DVC & SE, Tenughat of Govt. of Jharkhand decides day to day release of water
from Maithon Dam and Panchet Dam, and issues advice for release of water through the
dams.
Problems[edit]
People involved in power generation say that water should be filled up as much as possible as
it would be better for power generation. People involved in flood control department says
water storage should be lowered, so that in case of excessive rain a flood like situation arises
then it will be a flood cushion. This is a conflicting nature, so water has to be kept at an
optimum level to satisfy both parties
Dead Storage Capacity of the dam during the initial years was much more than the storage
capacity now.The portion of a water storages capacity that is equal to the volume of water
below the level of the lowest outlet (the minimum supply level),is known as th Dead Storage
Capacity. This, increase has been mainly due to the sedimentation storage. Due to human &
industrial activities, the storage capacity has decreased over the years. As per the design of
dam given by Mr.Voord capacity depth should have been 500 ft (150 m). But due to non-
acquisition of land the depth is at 495 ft (151 m). The carrying capacity of the dam as
designed by Mr.Voodro was 1,000,000 cu ft/s (28,000 m
3
/s). But at the time of construction it
was only 250,000 cu ft/s (7,100 m
3
/s) and at present it has a carrying capacity of less than
100,000 cu ft/s (2,800 m
3
/s). The cost of removing deposited silt in the dam is equal to the
construction of a new dam,therefore economically not viable. If the silt is removed and stored
in the banks of the dam, then during monsoon the silt would get washed off into the dam.
Maithon Dam has completed 60 years in service, and this naturally has an effect on the
structures, in spite of regular maintenance by DVC.
Flood warning[edit]
Before releasing the water from dam's spillway gates, necessary warning is communicated to
district authorities, affected downstream industries, municipalities and others including senior
administrative officials of Burdwan, Bankura, Purulia; IOW Dept. Govt.of WB; EE, DHW,
Durgapur; Member(RM); CWC, New Delhi. Whenever there is a discharge from Maithon
and Panchet dams exceeding 1,132 cu ft/s (32.1 m
3
/s), special arrangements are broadcast
through DOORDARSHAN and AIR regional news bulletins. DOORDARSHAN, Kolkata
also telecasts daily weather forecasts with probable rainfall in the Damodar Valley.
Maithon Dam has completed its 60 successful years in the service to the nation but, the
maintenance of the reservoir is a matter of concern. In these 60 years the depth of the
reservoir has decreased, so it gets flooded very soon. So to maintain the safe level the water
has to be released through dams. It has a dual impact, first it hits badly to the irrigation in
Burdwan District also the power generation capacity MHPS as the capacity of the reservoir
has decreased in last 60 years.
The rain water takes a lot of soil with it and the same settles down in the reservoir causing
decrease in the depth. There should be some corrective action taken to make the life of
Maithon Dam.
There is also a pollution threat to the town as many industries are being set up in the locality.
There is also a thermal power (MPS) being built in the locality. These are a lot of water-
consuming industries and will consume water from the river Barakar itself. This is going to
create pollution as well as water crisis in the area. The underground water level has already
decreased over the years which further strains the water resources.
Maithon Power Limited (a Joint venture of Tata power and DVC)
Maithon Power Limited (MPL), a joint venture of TATA POWER & DVC, has implemented the 1050 MW (2X525
MW units) near the city of Dhanbad in the state of Jharkhand in India. This Project is Indias first 525 MW unit
thermal power plants using subcritical technology, coal-based thermal power plant in the country and the first
PPP venture plant in the country.
As per the bidding norms, the Project was designed to be run on Indian coal. The Project is expected to benefit
close to 16 million domestic consumers apart from supplying cost competitive power to industry and agriculture.
The Project will supply power to four states namely New Delhi, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Kerala as per long
term PPA which are currently facing shortage of electricity. It will provide a competitive source of power and help
meet these states growing demand for electricity. Reliable power from the project will help improve the
competitiveness of the manufacturing and services industries.
MPL Highlights
Indias first 525 MW power project near Dhanbad, Jharkhand.
Indias first Power Project in Private-Public Joint Venture.
Main power generation equipment sourced from M/S BHEL,INDIA
Consumers in four of India's power starved states will benefit from this project
Both the 2 Units have been commissioned