OPTCL asked to explain dual policy on transmission line

The state energy department has sought clarification from Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (OPTCL) regarding discrepancies in granting permission for setting up of private power transmission lines meant for connecting power plants with state grid network.

The issue cropped up after the department found OPTCL to have set certain conditions on Maa Durga Thermal Power Company Ltd (MTPCL), an independent power producer (IPP) setting up 60 Mw power plant at Tangi near Cuttack, to build a 133 Kv transmission line for evacuation of power while such conditions were absent for other power producers.

"OPTCL has suggested MTPCL to give an undertaking to hand-over the line after its completion and commissioning to OPTCL. But in case of Sterlite Energy Ltd, OPTCL had not imposed this condition," said an energy department official.

"So we have asked OPTCL to maintain uniformity while approving private transmission lines," the official added.

Sterlite Energy, another IPP and a subsidiary of Vedanta group, is constructing a 400 Kv transmission line for evacuation of power from its Jharsuguda plant. While the state transmission utility gave its nod for construction of the line, it did not impose conditions of handing over the lines after project completion as mentioned in Section 68 of the Electricity Act, 2003.

But in case of MPTCL, which had requested for approval about a year ago for construction of 133 kv transmission line connecting its plant with the grid system, OPTCL had asked MPTCL to give an undertaking to hand it over the line after completion.

MPTCL officials said, they have already submitted an undertaking to handover the lines and have no objection to this demand raised by OPTCL. The company is yet to start construction of its power transmission line for connecting its power plant with the state grid.