Orissa seeks WAPCOS help to set up 32 mini-hydel projects

Bhubaneswar, Jan 14 (PTI) After signing MoUs with 30independent power producers (IPPs), Orissa government todaysought help of WAPCOS for execution of mini and micro hydelprojects for generation of clean and cheap electricity,official sources said.

The decision in this regard was taken at a meetingchaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik here. Water and powerconsultancy service, a government of India undertaking hasbeen requested to provide technical know-how, designs andplan for setting up mini- and micro hydel projects, saidenergy minister Atanu S Nayak.

Stating that 32 of the 82 proposals for establishmentof mini and micro hydel projects had been cleared by thetechnical committee, the minister said that a dedicated cellfor the purpose would soon be set up in the water resourcesdepartment.

Of the 32 mini-hydel projects, two have alreadystarted generation in the state. Together, the two projectsgenerate 37 MW of electricity, the minister said adding thatthe 32 units would have capacity of producing about 350 MW ofenergy.

The private parties who have applied for installingthe mini-hydel projects, would be spending about Rs 5 crorefor generation of one MW of electricity, sources said.