8 March 2006- The impact of an extremely dry winter, visible in the shrunken snow fed rivers, is being felt at the three hydropower stations in the country. Electricity generations from Chukha, Kurichhu and Basochhu hydropower corporations, which normally shrink in winter, have started falling lower since February this year.

“Electricity generation is directly dependent on the volume of river,” said chief engineer, Thinley Dorji of the 60 MW Kurichhu project in Gyalpoizhing, Mongar.

“The low we had so far was 18 megawatt in 2004,” said the chief engineer, adding that the water level from the Kurichhu had dropped to about 53,000 litres, just enough to run one of the four turbines.

According to general manager Dawa Sangay of the 66 MW Basochhu Hydro Power Corporation (BHPC) in Wangduephodrang, generation was lower compared with the previous year.

In January and February last year Basochhu had generated about 6.0 and 4.8 million units. These had dropped to about 5.1 and 3.9 million units in the first two months of 2006.

“Then, the water discharge dropped to 18 cubic metre a second,” said Yeshey Wangdi. “This year we have been able to discharge about 21 cubic metre a second. But we are fretful of facing a much worse condition in March which is the driest month,” he said.

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