Tehri Hydro Development Corp to set up plant in UP

Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd (THDCL) will set up a 30-Megawatt (Mw) power plant in Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh.

The power-starved state today signed an Implementation Agreement with THDCL for the Dhukwan Hydro Electric Project.

The agreement was signed by UP energy secretary and UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) CMD Navneet Sehgal and THDCL Director (technical) S K Shukla.

The cost of the project, which would be completed in three years, will be Rs 150 crore and borne by THDCL.

It is proposed downstream of the Mata Tila dam on the Betwa river. The project will utilise the reservoir created by Dhukwan dam to generate 120 million units of electricity annually.

The project was hanging fire since long and the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department had long back carried out a positive feasibility study.

Sehgal said it would not only aid power generation efforts of the state but also provide employment opportunities in the impoverished Bundelkhand region.

“We are preparing a fresh detailed project report (DPR) and carrying out hydrological studies related to the project. Other technical specifications will also be added. We hope that the DPR is approved by May 2010 so that the actual work on the plant can begin,” he added.

The total power generated would be utilised by Uttar Pradesh and the project involves no rehabilitation, resettlement and environment impact.

THDCL is a joint venture between the Centre and the state government in the ratio of 75:25. By 2017, the state government is planning to ramp up power generation capacity by 25,000 Mw with the help of private sector.

Several power projects in the public-private partnership mode have been proposed, while others like Bara and Karchhna thermal power projects are underway in Allahabad district. Jaypee Group is setting up these two projects and the company has already ordered for machinery and equipment for the plants.