No power shortage in Haryana by 2010: Minister

Sirsa, Apr 22 (UNI) There will be no shortage of electricity in Haryana by the year 2010 as the State Government plans to add 7000 MW generating capacity by constructing thermal power projects of 5,000 MW capacity at a cost of Rs 24,000 crore and by making purchase agreements for 2000 MW from other states for 25 years period.

This was stated by Power Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala here today before inaugurating eight substations of 33 KV leveland laying the foundation stone of two other substations of 33 KV level.

The substations include 33 KV Kagdana, Jamal, Bansudhar, Baragudha, Desu Jodha, Khuiyan Malkana, Risalia Khera, Mohmadpuria, Mirjapur and Kuttabadh. The newly commissioned substations have been constructed at a cost of Rs 15.70 crore while the two substations at Bansudhar and Kuttabadh where construction work has been started would cost about Rs five crore.

Mr Surjewala said that Haryana Government would be second after Gujarat to make arrangements of purchasing 2000 MW power from other states under the new policy of the Central Government. He said that the present Government would be the first State Government in the country to add 7000 MW capacity in a period of three years.

A 1200 MW thermal was coming up at Khedar in district Hisar, a 1500 MW thermal power project was under construction at Jharli in Jhajjar district while another thermal power project of 1320 MW would be set up in district Jhajjar, he said. He also pointed out that the first unit of 300 MW capacity had already started generating power at Deen Bandhu Chhottu Ram Thermal Power Plant, Yamunanagar and second unit of 300 MW capacity of this plant was likely to take plant load factor of 200 MW by tomorrow.

To strengthen the power transmission system in the State, Mr Surjewala said that the Government had drawn up an ambitious annual plan of about Rs 920 crore. Under this plan the power utilities would construct 127 new substations and augment capacity of 100 existing substations all over the state.

The Power Minister said that besides strengthening power transmission system, the Government had drawn a big plan to strengthen the power distribution system to ensure better service to consumers. With a view to minimize interruptions in the distribution system the Distribution Corporations would bifurcate and trifurcate 225 overloaded and lengthy 11 KV feeders supplying power to urban as well as rural areas.

The load of about 650 feeders, supplying electricity to domestic and agriculture sectors in rural areas, was being segregated in order to ensure extra fault free power supply to the domestic category consumers. Efforts were being made to complete the segregation work by the end of June so that there was no inconvenience to farmers during the paddy season, he added.

He said that the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam and the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam had planned to spend Rs 350 crore to strengthen power transmission and distribution system in the district.

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