PSPCL's slow canal fixes trigger Rs 210cr power generation loss

Chandigarh: Punjab has suffered a massive financial loss of over Rs 210 crore in hydropower generation through Aug 2026 after the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) failed to fully restore the Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC) hydel project following a major breach a year ago. Despite an expenditure of about Rs 50 crore on restoration, the project currently generates only 40 MW against its 91.3 MW capacity, with water discharge limited to 3,500 cusecs out of 7,200 despite adequate supplies at Madhopur Headworks. This restriction caused a cumulative generation loss of over 300 million units, with July and August alone accounting for 60 million units. The crisis originated on Aug 25, 2025, when heavy rains and massive water releases from Ranjit Sagar and Shahpur Kandi dams choked trash racks at power house no. 1, leading to a severe breach near the silt ejector at RD 10500 that flooded neighbouring villages and National Highway 54. Repairs handled by the water resources department faced repeated setbacks, including leakages and soil settlement during test runs in November 2025 and January 2026, followed by fresh leakages at the shingle ejector after partial recharging on May 6. Meanwhile, the PSEB Engineers' Association recently warned chief minister Bhagwant Mann of an impending power crisis, highlighting PSPCL's projected Rs 7,800-crore revenue shortfall for the fiscal year and critically low coal reserves at private thermal plants. PSPCL chief engineer Hydel projects, SM Dilbagi said, 'The water resource department is attending the restoration work and plugging the leakages. Our machines are ready but the restoration is being done by water resource department as such leakages take time. We are hopeful that soon it will become fully operational.' You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Chandigarh | Silver Rate in Chandigarh | Bank Holidays in Chandigarh | Public Holidays in Chandigarh | Chandigarh AQI | Weather in Chandigarh | Petrol Price in Chandigarh | Diesel Price in Chandigarh | CNG Price in Chandigarh | LPG Price in Chandigarh Stay updated with the latest Chandigarh news. Download the TOI App.