Delhi signs up for Tehri, NTPC power

In a move that is likely to ease Delhi's power woes, the state government today signed agreements to purchase 1,031 Mw power from the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation and NTPC.

According to agreements between the Delhi Transco Ltd and the power generating companies, THDC will supply 600 Mw and NTPC will supply 431 Mw.

In the next three to four months, Delhi will start getting around 100 Mw from the Tehri project, while NTPC will provide around 30 Mw, which will help the state meet peak demand during the summer months.

The full capacity of 1031Mw supply will be reached by 2009 ahead of the Commonwealth Games 2010 and the estimated cost of power will be between Rs 1.87 and Rs 4.10 per unit.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the government had signed an agreement with the power ministry for setting up a 490 Mw plant at Dadri that will be dedicated towards meeting Delhi's needs. Around 200 Mw may also come from Bhutan in December, she added.

"In all, by 2009, the additional supply to Delhi will reach 1,500 Mw of power," Dikshit said. Announcing the agreements, Dikshit said the move will help Delhi meet its increasing power requirements.

"While the Commonwealth games have become a benchmark for us, the agreements are anyway important for us as the requirement of Delhi is rising by eight to nine per cent every year," she said.

The Delhi government is also making efforts to procure gas for Pragati II plant and to convert Indraprastha power plant from a coal-based one into a gas-based one.

Meanwhile, Transco officials said the government has made adequate preparations for meeting Delhi's power requirements during summer and have tied up with different power stations for a supply of 4,100 Mw.