Maha: Govt approves setting up of new transmission systems

Maharashtra Cabinet today approved strengthening and setting up of transmission systems in the state for renewable energy under Centre's Green Energy Corridor project with an estimated cost of Rs 367 crore.
Out of the estimated cost, 20 per cent equity share will be that of Maharashtra electricity transmission company (Mahatransco).
The Green Energy Corridor has 40 per cent grant from the National Clean energy fund and 40 per cent loan from German Development bank KfW with an interest rate of 2 per cent, Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
He said the transmission networks are being set up in Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Beed, Ahmednagar, Nashik, Dhule, Sindhudurg and an additional electricity of 2,570 MW would be generated from these eights districts.

Bawankule said the electricity demand of the state is around 17500 MW and Mahagenco's (State Power Generation Company) generation is about 5500 MW.
"In the next few months, 500 MW thermal plant will start at Chandrapur, 1960 MW generation will take place at three super critical thermal plants in Koradi. Similarly, 250 MW power plant at Parli will also start functioning but it is getting delayed due to water shortage," he said.

The minister also said the previous government had approved 1500 MW windmill projects without proper policy in place.
"We are regularising most of them because we don't want projects to go out of the state. Similarly, there are about 2000 MW private power projects sanctioned without Power Purchase Agreement. They are shut and we are working on a policy to revive them," the minister said.

Bawankule said the cabinet also approved a proposal to provide 150 acres of land in Shilapur village in Nashik for setting up electrical testing lab to the Central Power Research Institute.