The Maharashtra government is planning to make amendments to the rule 1991 of the Development Control Rules (DCR) of Mumbai for construction of new underground power sub-stations.
"The Energy department has urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who heads the Urban Development department to to ratify the proposal at the earliest," State Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule told reporters here today.
Meanwhile, considering the space constraints in Mumbai and growing power requirements of the megapolis, Maharashtra government is now laying a new 800KV ring route power line along the coastline.
Work on laying the underground power cable has already commenced two months ago, the minister said.
"With the growing demand for power in Mumbai and the space constraints the government is planning to construct new power sub-stations in spaces where over ground construction is not possible now," he said.
Bawankule further said the problem is being faced more in areas like Colaba, Fort, Bandra.
"Hence the government has decided to make amendments to the development plan whereby power sub-stations can be constructed beneath public spaces like gardens. The construction of proposed power sub-stations will not come in the way of construction of underground Metro lines," he added.
Bawankule said that Mumbai is perhaps the only city in the world where high tension power cables are not underground or ducted.
"At present there are discrepancies in the development plan where there is no clear demarcation of areas for construction of power sub-stations," he said.
"In an another far reaching decision the government
has also decided to do away with the current practice of the revenue department charing money from the state power supply utilities for construction of power sub-stations," the minister added.
According to him, at present, Reliance Infra (transmission) is facing problem in constructing one such sub-station in Bandra-Kurla Complex due to dispute over the land ownership with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
Bavankule said that the BEST power supply undertaking too has pointed out the delay in transfer of land ownership to it has been major hindrance in construction of power sub-stations.
