Bhangar power grid project to be commissioned by end of

The power grid project in South 24 Parganas districts Bhangar is likely be commissioned by the end of January next year, a senior official of the Power Grid Corporation of India said on Thursday.

Enquired by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee about the progress of the work at the proposed power grid in Bhangar, the official of the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd informed that work was about to be completed and the plant would be commissioned by next month-end.

"Why is the work delayed at the power grid? If you need employ more workmen to complete it. We have solved the problem," Banerjee told state Power secretary Sunil Gupta at the meeting.

"The work is going on and we are hopeful that we will be able to commission it by January-end," the official of the PGCIL informed the chief minister.

The work at the Bhangar power grid project started last August 14, but it was halted in early 2017 after protests by villagers in the area.

Five people were killed and several were injured during protests that broke out against the power grid project in 2017.

The state government has agreed to shell out an extra Rs 12 crore to compensate the villagers.

Banerjee asked the officials to speed up the work before any further problem emerge in the area.

"Please see that no further problem arises and try to complete the project before any new problem arises," she said.

Later speaking to PTI, the official said the project was stalled following protests by villagers and there were some technical damages.

"Some technical damages caused the delay. We hope that by January-end we will be able to start flow of power through the grid through transmission lines," he said adding that the power would be supplied from Farakka Super Thermal Power Plant.