Coal news and updates

CCEA sanctions Rs 4,754.42 cr for intra-state T&D system

September 16: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), on September 15, approved a grant of Rs 4,754.42 crore for intra-state transmission and distribution systems, said an official release.

According to the statement, of the total grant, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim would be given Rs 3,199.45 crore and Rs 1,544.99 crore respectively.

Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (Independent charge) for Power, Coal New & Renewable Energy, said the project will be implemented under full technical guidance of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) and is scheduled to be completed in 48 months (four years). After construction, the entire system will be transferred to the state governments for future operation and maintenance.

He added that there is no chance of increase in tariffs as no maintenance charge will be taken from the state governments.

The minister further said the project comprises 4,240 km of 220, 132, 66, 33 kV transmission lines as well as 1,304 MVA sub-station transformation capacity through construction of 115 sub-stations. In the process, 134 transmission lines will be constructed to cover 15 districts in Arunachal Pradesh and 4 districts in Sikkim.

At present, only 5 districts out of 20 are connected to the transmission network at 132/220 KV in Arunachal Pradesh.

“It has been ensured that now the network will be built taking into account the full load requirements as well as forthcoming generation capacity throughout the state,” he added.

The project will provide great benefit to a large number of people of the north eastern region and Sikkim which are presently not connected to the grid supply in a reliable and secure manner.

The project was initially conceived through the Passighat Declaration in 2007, wherein it was decided at the Summit of the North Eastern Council to provide adequate transmission network in all the north eastern states and Sikkim so that the development of the region can take place along with rest of the country.

 “After the new government took over, approval of the project was expedited based on this government’s commitment to the accelerated development of the north eastern region,” he added.