The 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri project, owned and operated by the state-owned Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam in Himachal Pradesh, is the country’s biggest hydropower project located close to the Sutlej river. Powered by six vertical axis turbines of 250 MW in an underground power house (pictured), the electricity generated by the plant is supplied to the northern grid. Unfortunately, the project saw frequent shutdowns when it came into operation in early 2004, owing to high siltation caused by deforestation. Huge silos were later built to counter the problem. In the just-concluded fiscal, a delayed monsoon and prolonged winter resulted in a steep decline in generation. The project generated 6,777 MU during the year against 7,610 MU in FY12. The ministry of power has reduced the generation target for FY14 to 6,875 MU and is expecting revenues of ₹1,740 crore against likely revenues of ₹1,707 crore in FY13.