Uttaranchal set to tide over power crisis

Transmission network to be set

The power scenario will improve further in Uttaranchal by the end of this year with the commissioning of three major hydro-electric plants.

These projects include the 1,000 Mw Tehri, the second phase of the 304 Mw Maneri Bhali, and the 400 Mw Vishnuprayag.

"By the end of this year, we will add 1,704 Mw through these projects," said Principal Secretary (Power) N Ravishanker."

All the four units (76X4) of the Maneri Bhali project, being built by the state agencies, will start by December.

Vishnuprayag, which is being built by the Jaypee Group, will also be commissioned by October this year though its first unit may start functioning by the end of June.

With the power scenario perking up, the state for power evacuation at Rs 30 crore and invite private players in this regard.

For this purpose, the government has sought loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Through this network, the government is hopeful of linking all the transmission lines coming from various hydel projects in the state with the northern grid. "Our main purpose is to link various hydel projects in the state with the northern grid," Ravishanker said.

Sub transmission networks in both Garhwal and Kumaon regions would also be set up on similar lines.

The power generation capacity in Uttaranchal, which is being billed as energy state is expected to rise with the government stating that it would generate another 1,700 Mw of power in the 11th Plan while it has set a target of producing 4,000 Mw in the 12th Plan. Uttaranchal is producing 1,400 Mw .

The National Thermal Power Corporation, National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, Tehri Hydro Power Corporation, and Uttaranchal Jal Vidyut Nigam are the big government enterprises which are constructing big hydel projects in the state. The controversial Tehri hydel project alone will produce 2,400 Mw .