900 MW pump storage power project commissioned in Bagmundi

Purulia, Apr 06 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today officially commissioned the fourth and last unit of the 900 MW pump storage power project at Bagmundi in Purulia district.

Talking to mediapersons here, the Chief Minister said the new water-based power project, a Joint Venture between India and Japan, would meet the rising electricity requirements of the state to a great extent.

''The pump storage system, a new and innovative technique, has been executed for the very first time in India and is present in very few countries of Asia,'' the Chief Minister said.

He informed that most of the power projects in the country were coal-based, which caused huge pollution. However, the Bagmundi project, being a water-based one, would result in comparatively much less pollution.

The estimated cost drawn up for the project was about Rs 3,182 crore. However, it was successfully completed within a cost of Rs 2,950 crore, Mr Bhattacharjee added.

The project comprises four units of 225 MW each and the first unit was commissioned on October 10 last year.

State Power Minister Mrinal Bannerjee informed that the Bagmundi project was adjacent to the Turga dam, adding that the government was also considering setting up another 600 MW water-based power project on the Turga dam.

Japan Consul General Motoishi Noro said the Japan government was keen to work with the Indian government to set up many more such projects for the overall development.

UNI XC DPM DB1505