West Bengal denied power supply from Tala project in Bhutan

Kolkata, Apr 5 (UNI) The Centre's denial to supply power from West Bengal from Tala Project in Bhutan has come as a big blow to West Bengal's much hyped 'power surplus' status.

Sources in the state power department said the Union Power ministry had decided to bar power supply from upcoming 1,020 MW Tala project as the state has a comfortable power back-up.

If not denied, the state would not have lost around 400 MW of power, the sources added.

However, when Tala Hydroelectric Project was initiated, the Centre had asked the eastern states to put their requisitions.

The state had requisitioned 45 per cent of the generation, the source said.

The state of late has been facing a power crisis because the government had been trying to strike a balance between thermal and hydel power.

Currently the mix of thermal and hydel in the state is 95:5.

Power from the Tala project would be transmitted to northern states like Jammu and Kashmir via Delhi.

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