NTPC to monitor WBPDCL projects

West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL) has roped in National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) for monitoring quality at its projects being undertaken at Bakreswar, Sagardighi and Santaldihi.

WBPDCL has also entered into talks with Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance Ltd and Buro Veritas for appointing them for quality assurance agents on their behalf for equipment being imported by Dong Fang of China, engaged in erecting Sagardighi 1 & 2 project.

"NTPC would be engaged in quality monitoring, field quality management and manufacturing quality assurance. The company has posted personnel at almost all of BHEL's manufacturing units because of its association with BHEL for its own plants. This has also served our purpose because the orders for Bakreswar and Santaldihi has been awarded to BHEL," sources explained.

Projects being undertaken by WBPDCL are Bakreswar unit 4 & 5 (2x210MW), Sagardighi 1 & 2 (2x300MW) and Santaldihi unit 5 (250MW). While, Bakreswar and Santaldihi was awarded to Bhel, Sagardighi was awarded to Dong Fang.

"With three large ticket projects being undertaken there has been a shortage of qualified quality monitoring personnel at WBPDCL and the tie-up aims at bridging the gap," explained the source.

NTPC would be responsible for construction management at Sagardighi and Santaldihi and would also supervise work progress at both the projects which would be guided by NTPC's quality assurance team.

"The idea is to form a construction guidance team with PDCL employees which would be headed by an experienced NTPC member who in turn would report to the general manager," he added.

"At Bakreswar WBPDCL employees would undertake the field quality assurance which is essentially overseeing construction and erection at the site. NTPC would be responsible for manufacturing quality assurance on equipment supplied by BHEL and other contractors," the source said.

At Santaldihi NTPC will undertake manufacturing quality assurance and filed quality assurance as well as construction management.

At Sagardighi NTPC would undertake fields quality assurance as well as construction quality assurance.

"WBPDCL has recently entered into talks with Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance Ltd and Buro Veritas which are international quality control assurance companies with offices. The tie-up would be with one of the companies and the agreement will be signed soon," the source said.