Chhattisgarh power cos to invest Rs 17,000 crore in three years

State-run power companies in Chhattisgarh would invest Rs 17,000 crore in next three years to enhance the power capacity and improve the infrastructure in the sector.

“The investment would come up in power generation, transmission and distribution sector”, governor Shekhar Dutt said while addressing the members in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly today. With the governor's address, the budget session of the state assembly started.

The state is moving fast to become the power hub of the country, Dutt said, adding that the zero power cut in the state had given a distinct identity to Chhattisgarh in the country. The two projects of state-run generation company is nearing completion and it would add another 1500 Mw to state’s total power capacity, the Governor said.

He added that now the work for strengthening the distribution and transmission system was underway.

“After two decades, work for laying 400-KV transmission line had started in the state”, Dutt said.

With the good efforts of the state government, about 97 villages in Chhattisgarh have been electrified.

This is well above the National average of 83.80 per cent, Dutt added. About 1400 forest villages in the state have been electrified with solar energy.

Referring to the Naxalite problem in the state, the Governor said that despite pressure mounted by the rebels, Chhattisgarh had registered growth in all sectors.

This proves that common man is confident with the security system in the state, he added. Efforts are on to increase the strength of force and modernize the system, Dutt said.

“I am well aware of state's capacity to face the challenges and emerge victorious”, the Governor said. Hence, he is confident that the state would win the decisive battle against the Naxalites, he added.