Velcan Energy plans 110 Mw hydro power project

Antoine Decitre, managing director, Velcan Energy met chief minister, Naveen Patnaik in the state secretariat and discussed about the project.

The company has submitted the detailed project report (DPR) for this project, which has been referred to the state water resources department for scrutiny.

The project will be approved only after the clearance of the water resources department, official sources said.

"The water resources department will scrutinise the proposal to see whether this project will interfere with the Orissa government's proposed multi-purpose projects in partnership with National Hydro-Power Corporation", Suresh Mohapatra, state energy secretary, said.

He said, the company has vast experience in generation of hydro power and currently operates two bio-mass power plants (15Mw) in Andhra Pradesh.

However, 100 per cent of the power to be generated from the proposed hydel plant in Orissa will be dedicated to the state.

Though the state government has approved 26 mini hydel projects on different river systems in the state, a scientific review is being done about these units with reference to hydrological aspects.

Stating that the state has potential of generating 1600 Mw power from wind, Mohapatra said, only the 2 Mw wind power plant at Damanjodi has been commissioned.

Suzlon has taken up survey with high mast wind speed measurement at 8 places.While one year study has been completed, the potential sites can be known after one more year of survey, he added.