All six units of much-delayed 1200 MW Teesta III hydro power project in Sikkim will be synchornised by March and power can start flowing from the plant by April-May this year, Power Minister Piyush Goyal said today.
"Power can start flowing by April or May," Goyal said in a press conference here when asked about the progress on TEESTA III 1200 MW hydro power project in Sikkim.
Power Secretary P K Pujari told reporters that there are total of six units of 200 MW each. "Three units have been synchronised and rest will be by March this year."
Goyal also said that he will soon call meeting with two chief ministers of states (Assam & Arunachal Pradesh) to sort out issues related to Lower Subansiri hydro power project.
The project commonly know as Teesta III is being implemented by Teesta Urja Ltd. The company is developing the 6x200 MW Teesta Stage-III Hydro Electric Power Project on Teesta River situated in North District of Sikkim.
This project is a part of overall development of Teesta basin being undertaken by Sikkim Government. The project is run of the river designed to generate 5,214 Million kWh (units) annually in 90 per cent dependable year, as per the information provided.
All the statutory clearances for the Project were received by November 2007 and the civil works for the project were started in January 2008.
The first unit of the project was to be commissioned in 2013 but the project got delayed due to earthquake in 2011 and issues among promoters.
Talking about budget Goyal said that Budget 2017-18 promotes the 'Make in India' mission by correcting inverted duty structure in many areas the budget and has provided impetus to transformative changes happening in the Ministry of Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines.
In renewables energy he said that the Budget has affirmed target for Solar Power of additional 20,000 MW capacity during next year.
He was of the view that the budget has provided renewed thrust on renewables, with removal/ reduction of customs/ excise duty on Solar tempered glass.
He said that the reduction of customs duties on various raw materials would further bring down clean energy cost.
Regarding the allocation for Power Ministry of Power Goyal said that it has been increased by 33 per cent to Rs 13,881 crores, due to major thrust on flagship rural electrification scheme Deen Dayal Upadhayaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY).
The allocation for this scheme has been increased by 44 per cent from Rs 3,350 crores to Rs 4,814 crores, while the contribution to urban areas scheme Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) has been increased by 29 per cent from Rs 4,524 crores to Rs 5,821 crores, he added.
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