Power boost to north;PM launches projects of 1,732 MW capacity

Three hydro-electric projects with combined generation capacity of 1,732 MW were today dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking a major step towards meeting the power requirements of the northern states.
The 800-MW power station of NTPC-Koldam, 520-MW Parbati project of NHPC and 412-MW Rampur hydro station of SJVNL were dedicated to the nation at a public event here.
Lauding the contribution of public sector companies in the country's growth, Modi said these hydro projects will bring prosperity to the state and other parts of the nation.
Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and Power Minister Piyush Goyal were among the dignitaries present.

NHPC's Parbati-III power station is a run-of-the-river scheme having a 43-m high rockfill dam, underground power house and 10.58-km water conductor system. The power plant is designed to generate 1,963.29 million units annually.
Power generated from the Parbati-III power station is distributed to Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Union Territory of Chandigarh.

The station is supplying 13 per cent free power to the home state of Himachal Pradesh -- 12 per cent as home state share and 1 per cent for local area development fund.
The completion cost of the project is around Rs 2,600 crore and as on September 30, 2016, the total power generation is 1880 MU with revenue realisation of Rs 816 crore.

With commencement of generation from four 200 MW units, NTPC-Koldam has achieved capacity of 800 MW and provides peaking capacity to the northern grid.
It shall annually generate 3,054 GWh electricity at 90 per cent dependable year basis. Twelve per cent of the electricity generated from Koldam is being supplied to home state Himachal Pradesh free of cost while 1 per cent to the state on account of the LAD fund.
All the project affected families are being provided 100 units of electricity every month free, which accounts for 0.62 per cent of the total generation.
Thus, a total 13.62 per cent of electricity generated from the plant is supplied free of cost to Himachal Pradesh, with the remaining supplied to other beneficiaries, namely Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttrakhand and Chandigarh.

SJVN's Rampur Project (412MW) in Kullu district will be operated in tandem with Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station (HPS). This project will provide 13 percent free power to Himachal Pradesh.