Gandhinagar TPS faces water shortage

VADODARA: The 870 mw coal-basedthermal power station at Gandhinagar has been facing water shortage as the levelin the bore wells dug up in the Sabarmati river bed has been sinking for quitesome time.Convenor of the joint action committee of GEB employees unionsand associations Baldev Patel feared the tube wells will not be able to maintaincontinuous supply after three months. It could cripple power generation as thisstation needs huge quantity of water.Earlier, its two units were closeddue to non-availability of water and the reason attributed was the drying up ofthe Sabarmati river — its main source. It compelled the Geb to dig up 45tube wells to cater to five thermal units. The installed capacity of three unitsis 210 mw. each and that of the remaining two units is 120 mw each.Formergeneral secretary of Geb power engineers association Marathe said withoutadequate water, it will be difficult to generate power.Member technical PH Rana said the Geb has to incur heavy expenditure on tube wells. Moreover,power consumption was high as it was needed to draw water from the tube wells.The Narmada waters ensure quality water.