Sikka Port to get power plant

A 500 mw imported coal based power plant will be set up at Sikka Port by the Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Ltd, Saurabh Patel, minister of state for power and petrochemicals, said.

The government has obtained necessary environmental clearances for the project and is negotiating with strategic partners, he said.

If the government could not find a partner for the project, the corporation will set up the plant on its own, the minister said.

Patel said the government has given priority to efficient power distribution and a massive feeder power bifurcation programme has been initiated in the state.

As many as 1,000 feeders have been identified. In Jamnagar district, out of the 57 such feeders 22 have been bifurcated from the agriculture feeders, he said.

Patel said to solve voltage problem, six new 66 KVA sub-stations will be set up in Jamnagar district.

A 66 KVA feeder line for ensuring the uninterrupted power supply to Dwarka will be set up.

Patel said the Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB) had conducted 20 lakh raids to detect power thefts and collected Rs 230 crore in fines.

Under the 'Jyotee Gram Yojna', the government has embarked upon an ambitious project to provide 24-hour three-phase power to 18,000 villages.

Jamnagar district's Amran feeder, covering nine villages, had became the first Jyotee Gram feeder and registration of more 13 villages is completed, Patel said.

He said the board is planning to replace 12 lakh faulty meters in the state and in Jamnagar, 22,000 meters have been replaced so far.