Integrated power network on the anvil in Uttaranchal

With electricity generation expected to perk up considerably in Uttaranchal in the near future, the state government is setting up an integrated transmission network for power evacuation at a cost of Rs 30 crore and will invite private players for the project.

After getting the Centre's approval for the project, the government has sought a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the same. A meeting of the ADB board, which has been convened on March 30 in Manila, will take a final decision on the loan.

Through this network, the government is hopeful of linking all the transmission lines coming from various hydel projects in the state with the northern grid. "Our main purpose is to link various hydel projects in the state with the northern grid," Principal Secretary Power N Ravishanker said.

The project envisages a sub transmission network in the Alaknanda-Yamuna-Bhagirathi valleys, which would be linked with that of the Kumaon region network. "We want to link Srinagar with Kashipur transmission lines," Ravishanker said.

Once the loan is approved by the ADB, the government will go for global bidding, inviting private players for the project.

The power generation capacity in Uttaranchal, which is being billed as an energy rich state, is expected to rise considerably with the government stating that it would generate another 1700 Mw of power during the 11th Plan period and has set a target of producing 4000 Mw during the 12th Plan perid. At present, Uttaranchal produces 1400 Mw of power.

NTPC, NHPC, THDC, UJVNL are some of the government enterprises which are undertaking big hydel projects in the state. The controversial Tehri Hydel project alone would produce 2400 Mw of power on its final completion. The first phase of the Tehri project is expected to generate electricity in March-April this year.