Frantic efforts to seek EB equipment under water

CHENNAI: The BHEL has taken steps on a war footing to retrieve a major equipment intended for delivery at the upcoming North Chennai Thermal Power Station (2 x 600 MW) from a Madhya Pradesh river, Varinder Pandhi, Executive Director, Heavy Electrical Equipment Plant, BHEL, Haridwar, told Express on Friday.A mega equipment, ‘stator,’ is a vital accessory of the electricity generator around which the rotor revolves. The heavy and high value equipment weighs over 300 tons.The BHEL’s Heavy Electrical Equipment Plant in Haridwar sent a stator to be installed at the first unit (1 x 600 MW) of the North Chennai Thermal Power Station. It was sent in a mega trailer. While crossing a narrow bridge in Madhya Pradesh, the bridge collapsed and the truck along with the equipment fell into the river.  Asked on the status of the retrieval of stator, Pandhi said that senior officials of BHEL in association with the transporter are engaged in taking out the equipment. “All efforts are on to take out the stator. BHEL and transport personnel are on the job. We hope to complete the job soon”, he said.On the fate of the equipment, he said it would be taken back to Haridwar. “Experts will assess if the stator had suffered any damage. I could say nothing more,” was his reply.Will the Mishap Delay The Project?The first unit of the North Chennai Thermal Power extension project (2 x 600 MW) near Ennore was originally scheduled to go stream by end-2011.Subsequently, it was revised and it is now expected to produce power by February 2012. Minister for Electricity, Natham R Viswanathan reviewed the project’s progress in August.However, the submerging of the key equipment has now put a question mark on the launch of the first unit. When asked, top officials of the TANGEDCO and the North Chennai project said that efforts were being made to stick to the schedule.Now, another stator which was originally intended for the second unit of the North Chennai project is ready, officials pointed out.“Senior officials are being rushed to Haridwar. They will inspect the stator and give nod for shipment. We could possibly use it for the first unit. No doubt, the mishap has caused some delay. We, however, hope to offset the delay,” a top official told Express.