Mandya, July 26 -- Karnataka's worsening rainfall deficit has forced the shutdown of the historic Shivanasamudra Hydroelectric Power Station - Asia's first hydel power plant - with electricity generation remaining suspended for nearly six weeks as the Cauvery river runs critically low.
The century-old power station in Malavalli taluk, which has powered Karnataka's industrial growth since 1902, has been unable to generate electricity because of inadequate water inflows in the Cauvery basin, underscoring the mounting impact of the state's deficient monsoon on both power generation and agriculture.
The plant, which normally generates around 42 MW of electricity, requires a minimum flow of about 1,450 cusecs of water to keep its turbines oper...