NHPC Parbati Hydroelectric Project Stage- II’s last unit starts commercial operation

Construction of the project started 20 years ago.

NHPC has completed the construction of the Parbati Project Phase-II with the commencement of commercial operation of its last unit.

Parbati-II Hydroelectric Project has a total installed capacity of 800 megawatts (MW) (4 x 200 MW). The company said the three other units first reached commercial operation on 1 April. 

Considered a  "run of the river" project, NHPC said it constructed an 83.7 metre high concrete gravity dam near Pulga village in Manikaran valley to divert the flow of Parbati River. The water is taken to Sainj Valley through a 31.56 kilometre long head race tunnel, where a power house has been constructed at Siund village. 

The total height of 863 metre between Pulga and Siund is being utilised for generating 800 MW of power. The water flow of Parbati is further increased by the mixing of water from five nalas coming along the head race tunnel. 

The powerhouse has 4 Pelton turbines of 200 MW each. 

Himachal Pradesh will get 12% free power from the project and the additional 1% free power will be used for Local Area Development Fund.

The construction of the project started in September 2002. During construction, the project faced many challenges such as cloud burst, flash flood, back-slope failure, siltation with heavy discharge and shear zone etc. 

The design energy of the project is 3,074 million units (MU). With the commissioning of this project, the generation capacity of the 520 MW Parbati-III power station will also increase by 1,262 million units per annum.