Durgaduani tidal power project in West Bengal

New Delhi, Dec 7 (UNI) The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has agreed to Mini Tidal Power Project at Durgaduani in Sunderbans Islands, West Bengal, in pinciple, said the Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Vilas Muttemwar in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

He said the formal sanction would be issued after the approval for investment is obtained. This project will have 3.65 MW capacity.

The West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WBREDA) earlier submitted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) in 2001 for setting up this project. On advice, after examination by an Expert Group, WBREDA obtained required statutory clearances and also revised the cost estimates before resubmission to the Ministry in June,2006. The revised cost estimates were Rs 40.15 crores.

WBREDA entered into an MOU with the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC), Faridabad for updation and upgradation of this DPR and its execution. The updated DPR prepared by NHPC has been received in the Ministry in November, 2007 and is under examination.

As per this DPR, the project capacity has been raised to 3.75 MW with cost projections of Rs 53.98 crores and project completion period of 33 months from the date of sanction. The Ministry has already agreed to it in principle,he added.

UNI