First tidal power plant to be set up in West Bengal

Kolkata, Oct 12 (UNI) National Hydro-electric Power Corporation (NHPC) and West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WBREDA) will jointly set up Indias first tidal power plant on Durgaduani Creek in the Sunderbans at an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore.

Official sources have said the Centre had agreed to bear 90 per cent of the total cost while the rest will be provided by the state government.

The NHPC, which has been roped in as the project implementing agency, will execute the process on a turn-key method. It is expected that the project will be commissioned by 2010, the sources added.

The sources maintained that the eco-friendly project with a capacity to generate around four MW, will electrify villages in Gosaba area of South 24 Parganas, benefitting around one lake dwellers.

The sources said the WBREDA had completed the Detailed Project Report (DPR) in 2002 itself while the environmental study was over in 2004. The study covered several aspects relating to the impact on physical, biological and human such as topography, hydrology, water and air quality, forest and vegetation, fauna, aquatic ecology, rehabilitation, services, health and education. Based on this study, environmental clearance was sought for the project.

The project comprises two barrages to be built across the upstream and downstream ends of the Durgaduani creek which runs between the Gosaba and Bali-Bijoynagar islands and connects Bidyadhari and Gomti rivers.

Apart from these projects WBREDA would also set up a wind farm with a generation capacity of around 50 MW at Dadanpatra near Contai.

''The vast energy potential of the seas and oceans, which cover about 3/4th of our planet, can make a significant contribution to meet our energy requirement,'' sources said adding various forms of energy from the seas and oceans which are receiving attention at present are Tidal Power, Waves and Ocean Currents.

The sources further maintained that realisation of power from oceans is limited due to technological gaps and limited resources.

At present only tides can be harnessed for power generation.

In India, the Gulf of Kutchh and Gulf of Cambay in Gujarat and the Gangetic delta of Sunderbans in West Bengal are potential sites for generating tidal power, sources stated.

UNI RH PL AB 1351