Question

Shivanasamudra hydro-electric power station was established to supply power to ________.
A) Gold mines in Kolar
B) Gold mines in Dharwad
C) Gold mines in Raichur
D) Gold mines in Chitradurga

Answer 1

Hint: Hydroelectricity, often known as hydropower, is electricity generated through the use of rapidly flowing water to generate electricity or to manage the energy produced.

Complete answer:
In the year 1902, the Shivanasamudra Hydro Power Project was inaugurated. It has a total capacity of 42 megawatts installed in this power plant. The project is classified as a major project since it has a capacity of more than 25 megawatts.
- The river Cauvery is its major water source and south Indian states, primarily Karnataka benefits from this power plant.
- In 1956, the Kolar gold mines became operational, with a production of almost 900 tonnes of gold.
- The Indian government shut the site down on February 28, 2001, due to environmental and economic concerns.

Kolar Gold Fields (K.G.F.) is a mining zone in the Kolar district of Karnataka, India. It received most of its energy from the Shivasundaram hydro-power plant, which was established in the year 1902 for the sole purpose of energy generation for the mines.

The correct answer is an option (A) because the power supplied to Kolar Goldmines mainly takes place from the Shivanasamudra hydroelectric station.

Note: Nationalized in the year 1956, the Kolar gold mines produced a total of nearly 900 tonnes of gold annually. Food, water, and shelter were in short supply, and production did not justify the investment, hence in 2001 the mines shut down. An additional reason was also due to a lack of inappropriate technology used to optimise the mining costs.