Latest news with #WAPCOS
Hans India
an hour ago
- Business
- Hans India
MoU signed for pumped storage project
Bhubaneswar: The State-run Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) on Friday signed an MoU with Central enterprise Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) Limited for project management for the upper Indravati pumped storage venture. The agreement was signed here in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Development Commissioner Anu Garg for project management consultancy services for the 600 MW upper Indravati pumped storage project (UIPSP) at Mukhiguda in Kalahandi district. The detailed project report of the UIPSP has been prepared through WAPCOS. The upper Indravati pumped storage project is an energy storage system that pumps water from the lower to the upper reservoir during surplus power available in the grid, and the same water is released to generate electricity during peak demand, it said. The OHPC is constructing a 600 MW pumped storage project in the vicinity of its existing upper Indravati hydroelectric project. The collaboration marks a crucial step in advancing Odisha's energy sector while ensuring efficiency and sustainability, Singh Deo said. The proposed pumped storage project will have an underground powerhouse located near the lower reservoir, equipped with four vertical-axis reversible-type Francis Hydroelectric units, having a capacity of 150 MW each and will operate in pumping as well as generating mode at different times of a day, he added.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Only KCR decided on KLIS matters: Eatala
Hyderabad: Deposing before the Justice (retd) PC Ghose one-man commission inquiring into alleged irregularities in Kaleshwaram project, former BRS finance minister (now BJP MP) Eatala Rajender said the decision on redesigning the project and location of the three barrages – Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla – was taken by the cabinet led by CM K Chandrasekhar Rao, and he had limited role as finance minister. Rajender, who was witness no. 113, told the panel that the project cost, loans, auditing and quality of barrages came under the Kaleshwaram corporation and irrigation department, not the finance department. Cabinet took decision The commission, which is probing the sinking of piers in Block 7 of Medigadda barrage and damages in Annaram and Sundilla, called Rajender as witness since he was the finance minister when the project was taken up by the BRS govt in 2015. He served as finance minister between June 2014 and Sept 2018. Apart from Rajender, the commission is set to quiz former BRS irrigation minister T Harish Rao on June 9 and KCR on June 11. On Friday, during 40 minutes of questioning, Justice Ghose posed 19 questions. Rajender maintained that he was merely one of the three members in the cabinet sub-committee headed by then irrigation minister Harish Rao on finalising the location of the Kaleshwaram project, but the cabinet took the final decision. On redesigning of Kaleshwaram, Rajender said that originally it was proposed at Thummudihatti on Maharashtra border at 152 metres height and reduced to 148 metres. Since there were objections from the neighbouring state, the sub-committee was constituted by KCR and cabinet approved it based on expert committee, technical committee and sub-committee reports. He replied that the sub-committee okayed the redesigning and the three barrages' construction was approved by the cabinet. The MP, however, said he was not aware 5.97 crore paid to WAPCOS for preparation of the report. The project's initial cost was 16,500 crore, which was revised to 38,000 crore. Later, after revision and inclusion of more areas and components, it was estimated to cost 63,000 crore. Even that was revised to 82,000 crore. Of this, the barrages cost less than 10,000 crore, he said. 'KCR is the big boss' Later, speaking to reporters, Rajender said the decision to shift Kaleshwaram location from Thummidihatti to Medigadda was taken by KCR , who was head of the cabinet and big boss. "There were some comments when I was summoned by the one-man commission. But people of Telangana know me for the past 25 years and I have maintained ethics in politics. I won't lie even at gun point," Rajender said. The BJP MP demanded that the govt take action against all those responsible for the alleged irregularities in the project as some agencies have already submitted their reports. He also urged the govt to make reports public. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
United News of India
2 days ago
- Business
- United News of India
OHPC signs agreement with WAPCOS for management consultancy services of 600 MW UIPSP
Bhubaneswar, June 6 (UNI) Odisha Hydro Power Corporation Ltd (OHPC) and WAPCOS Ltd on Friday signed an agreement for project management consultancy services for the 600 MW Upper Indravati Pumped Storage Project (UIPSP) at Mukhiguda. The Detailed Project Report for the UIPSP has been prepared by WAPCOS. Essentially, it is a large Energy Storage System that pumps water from the lower to the upper reservoir during periods of surplus power availability in the grid. This water is then released to generate electricity during peak power demand. OHPC is constructing a 600 MW Pumped Storage Project near its existing 600 MW Upper Indravati Hydro Electric Project. 'This collaboration marks a crucial step in advancing Odisha's energy sector while ensuring efficiency and sustainability,' said Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo,who also holds the energy portfolio. He further stated that the proposed PSP will have an underground powerhouse located near the lower reservoir, equipped with four vertical-axis reversible-type Francis hydroelectric units, each with a capacity of 150 MW (i.e., 4 x 150 = 600 MW). The system will operate in both pumping and generating modes at different times of the day by circulating water between the two reservoirs. Senior officials from the Water Resources Department, Energy Department, OHPC, and WAPCOS were present on the occasion. UNI DP GNK
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Harish meets KCR in farmhouse ahead of Ghose panel hearing on Kaleshwaram
Hyderabad: With only one week left to appear before Justice (retired) PC Ghose one-man commission probing the Kaleshwaram project including the sinking of piers of Medigadda barrage and leakage in Annaram and Sundilla barrages, former minister T Harish Rao met former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao at the latter's Erravelli farmhouse on Wednesday. Both discussed about the deposition before the PC Ghose commission, sources said. During the meeting, KCR made suggestions for preparing notes for appearance before the commission, sources said. KCR is slated to appear before the commission on June 5, Harish Rao on June 9 and ex-finance minister (now BJP MP) Eatala Rajender on June 6. Harish Rao, in consultation with retired govt engineers who worked on Kaleshwaram project and irrigation experts, is preparing detailed notes in support of their argument, especially on shifting of Kaleshwaram project from Thummudihatti to Medigadda, designs of barrages, water availability, WAPCOS survey, consultations with Maharashtra govt for MoU etc., sources said. Sources said if the Ghose commission permits, KCR will give a presentation on each step of the Kaleshwaram project.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong spreading misinformation on Kaleshwaram to distract from failures: Harish
Hyderabad: Accusing the Congress govt of spreading misinformation and diverting attention from facts about the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS), former irrigation minister and senior BRS leader T Harish Rao asserted that the previous BRS regime had made major strides in Telangana's irrigation sector. He alleged that the Congress govt, in its 18 months in power, has mismanaged the sector and is now levelling baseless allegations to cover its inefficiencies. Harish Rao made these remarks at the launch of two books — 'Kaleshwaram Project: Questions–Criticisms–Distortions–Clarifications' and 'A Decade of Telangana's Journey in Irrigation' — authored by irrigation expert Sridhar Rao Deshpande here on Friday. Defending the decisions taken during the planning and execution of KLIS, he said the location of the Medigadda barrage, project cost, and related aspects were finalised after thorough consultations with experts. "Both WAPCOS and the committee of retired irrigation engineers never objected to the Medigadda barrage site. Their observations were limited to the pumping methodology—not the barrage itself," he clarified. Targeting the Congress, Harish Rao said the foundation for the Pranahitha-Chevella project was laid in 2004 during YS Rajasekhara Reddy's tenure, but not a single significant step was taken in a decade. "Now, the Congress levels corruption charges against the BRS, but it was their own govt that paid ₹2,700 crore in mobilisation advances without executing any work," he said. He also addressed the misinformation surrounding survey costs. "The state govt released ₹6.77 crore towards survey expenses for the Kaleshwaram project. However, some media outlets irresponsibly reported it as ₹677 crore," he said. He further dismissed the claim that gravity flow from Thummidihatti to Yellampally was possible, stating that lift irrigation would have been necessary even there. "Critics falsely claim we used lift technology unnecessarily at Medigadda," he said. Highlighting KLIS achievements, Harish Rao said the project created 18.27 lakh acres of new ayacut and stabilised irrigation for 18.87 lakh acres—benefiting over 37 lakh acres in total. "We built reservoirs with a capacity of 141 tmc to secure future water needs," he claimed. Responding to criticism of the Mallanna Sagar reservoir, he pointed out that while Congress continues to vilify it, the same govt is drawing drinking water for Hyderabad from the very reservoir. "You are issuing tenders to use Mallanna Sagar's water and yet claiming Kaleshwaram has collapsed," he remarked. Turning to Krishna river water usage, Harish Rao said Telangana had used 36% of Krishna waters under BRS rule, compared to only 27% under Congress. "Despite being entitled to 34%, they couldn't even fully utilise that," he said, adding that Andhra Pradesh used 715 tmc, while Telangana managed only 275 tmc. He demanded that the Congress govt raise the issue with the Krishna River Management Board and call for an Apex Council meeting under the Union jal shakti minister, as mandated by the AP Reorganisation Act. "Why is Congress silent while AP is planning to divert Godavari waters through the Jalaharathi project," he asked.
