SUBERNREKHA HYDEL PROJECT The Eastern Region at present has predominantly thermal grid with comparatively small hydel installation. With an ambitious programme of thermal power development in this region during the Fourth & Fifth five Year Plans, it was considered very necessary to back up these installations with a suitable hydel base for taking daily peak loads so as to allow the thermal units to run at highest possible load-factor at which they are most economical. The Subernrekha Project was originally planned to most this necessity only i.e. to supply peaking power in predominantly thermal grid.
Later, with the establishment of Heavy Engineering Corporation, National Coal Development Corporation, Hindustan Steels etc. round about Ranchi, the scarcity of water began to be felt. With the population growing by leaps and bounds, and with an eye on the inevitable growth of small and medium industries in an around Ranchi, it was felt that the existing water supply sources, including Hatia Dam will be quite inadequate to most the fast growing demand of water. In the absence of any other dependable source nearby, it was decided to meet this demand of water estimated at 75 cusecs from the Subernrekha Dam.
The Project envisaged the construction of a 116 ft. high earthen dam on River Subernrekha at Getaldud. Out of 350 cusecs of firm water draft available from the reservoir, 75 cusecs have been earmarked for water supply to Ranchi town and the industrial network in and around Ranchi; the rest i.e. 275 cusecs will be utilized in generating hydel power in a series of two power houses, each utilizing a head of about 450 ft. and having and installed capacity of about 65 each (i.e. a total of 130 MW). The power stations are designed at a load factor of 14%. The regulated discharge of 275 cusecs, which will be released back into River Subernrekha, will again be utilized lower down for supplying water to the industrial complex at Jamshedpur, Adityapur etc. Power House No.-I is scheduled to be commissioned in June 1975 & Power House No. II by March 1976. The scope of the Project in a nutshell in therefore.
- To supply 75 cusecs of water to Ranchi town and Ranchi Industrial network.
- To utilize 275 cusecs in generating about 144 million kwh of energy per year in two power houses, each having an installed capacity of 65 MW at 14% L.F. and operating under a " head " of about 450 ft.
- To provide benefits to the industrial complex at Jamshedpur with regulated water discharge from the tail-race of the power house.
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