KPTCL to take up works to mitigate power situation

KPTCL plans to improve the grid security for Rs 77.46 cr

The Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd plans to take up 244 new works for around Rs 5,100 crore this year to improve the power situation in the state, Energy Minister D K Shivakumar said today.

A sum of Rs 142.47 crore had been earmarked for the purpose this year, he told reporters here. The reason for small allocation for these projects vis-a-vis the estimated cost was that ground work like the tendering process had to be completed before the projects could take off for physical implementation, he said.

“These works would be completed during the 12th Plan period,” the minister said. More emphasis had been given to 110 kV and 66 kV categories power lines as these take electricity to consumers at every nook and corner of the state and facilitates withdrawal of power from the grid, he said.

Talking about the break-up of major ongoing infrastructure projects, Shivakumar said the Raichur Power Corporation and Karnataka Power Corporation have proposed to add 3,100 MW generation in the next three years.

The power from these generating stations has to be evacuated at 400 kV level for which it was planned to construct 400 kV double circuit lines (1,320 circuit KM) across the state with three stations at Gulbarga, Chicknayakanahally and Bellary at an estimed cost of Rs 3,000 crore.

“This would improve the availability of power to the state grid and save a lot of money in getting the power from the outside,” Shivakumar said. He also said, the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is putting up a 4,000-MW power plant near Kudgi in Bijapur.

To facilitate evacuation of power from the power plant, the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) is putting up 765/400/220 kV station near Kudgi with associated 765 kV and 400 kV transmission line, Shivakumar said. Shivakumar also said that the KPTCL plans to put up its 220-kV transmission lines at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore to facilitate drawl of power from these receiving station.

Taking a cue from the failure of the new grid in 2012 which affected large parts of north India forcing a total blackout for almost two days in a row, KPTCL plans to improve the grid security at an estimated cost of Rs 77.46 crore within a year or so, Shivakumar said. “For this, a grant to an extend of Rs 23 crore is expected from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) from the power system development fund (PSDF),” he added.