Karcham (Himachal Pradesh): Touted as nation's biggest hydropower project in the private sector, Karcham Wangtoo hydro-electric project in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur disrict has started generation at one of its unit ahead of schedule and the remaining three units are expected to start operations by mid-August. The 1000-MW project has been set up by Jaypee Karcham Hydro Corporation Ltd (JKHCL), a special purpose vehicle promoted by Jaiprakash Power Ventures Limited, at an estimated cost of Rs 6,903 crore. Located on river Sutlej beween the two villages Karcham and Wangtoo in Kinnaru district of Himachal Pradesh, each of the four units of the project has a capacity of 250 MW and the first unit was commisssioned on May 26. DP Goyal, project MD, said that remaining 3 units will also be commissioned by July-end or mid-August, which is four months ahead of schedule. Trials on the second unit are underway and it is expected to start generation by June 15. Company officials said that out of the 1000 MW that will be produced from Karcham-Wangtoo, 12% will be given free to the Himachal Pradesh government for 12 years and this will be raised to 18% after 12 years as per an agreement between Jaypee group and the state government.