BADAL IGNITES POWER REVOLUTION SUKHBIR
SPECTACLE DAZZLES MALWA
Thermal Power Project at banawali to have many firsts
- PSEB
Talwandi Sabo/ Chandigarh, September 2, 2008
In the post-Independence Punjab's biggest one-time initiative
in the thermal power sector, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash
Singh Badal today laid the foundation stone of the prestigious
1980 Mega Watt thermal power plant at Banawali, near Talwandi
Sabo, marking a new phase in what Mr. Badal today described as
"a thermal revolution of a magnitude unprecedented in the
history not only of the state but of the entire country."
In a thermal power plant, Water is heated, steam
is produced and used
to spin a turbine that operates a generator.
The occasion also turned to be an opportunity for Sukhbir to
show -case his mercurial political charisma and organizational
muscle. The youthful president of one of the oldest political
parties in the country went the whole hog and challenged himself
to roll out a spectacle at least ten times larger than the Congress
rally in his father's political back yard at Lambi. Organisers
of the Lambi rally had made much of their claim about a turn out
of anything between thirty to forty thousand. Although the Akali
claim of 5 to 7 lakh participants in today Sukhbir show may be
somewhat on the higher side, independent observes were unanimous
that the show of political strength had really dwarfed the congress
rally, making it look like a routine single constituency affair.
Sukhbir political stature is bound to go several notches higher
after today' forceful display. He successfully demonstrated that
despite the aberration of the last assembly poll, Malwa still
remained an Akali stronghold.
The setting up of the Thermal Plant here also helped the ruling
party score a crucial political point in their political debate
with their rivals. The project, to be built at a basic cost of
Rs 9000 crore and spread across a sprawling 2112 acres of land,
would launch the state into the next orbit of super critical power
infrastructure in order to boost generation capacity from the
6200 Mega Watts (MW) it had inherited in 2007 to a stunning 18503
MW by 2012. This would actually boost power availability by a
incredible 300%. The Talwandi Sabo plant alone would meet 30%
of the current power shortage in the state. It is scheduled to
start generation in 2012.
Talking about the details of the Talwandi Sabo project, Mr.
Sukhbir Singh said, " "No other state in the country
has so far undertaken such massive and wide-ranging development
initiative to boost its power generation by 300% in such a short
span. And we are determined to put the requisite infrastructure
on the ground well before we go back to the people for a mandate
in 2012," said a confident Sukhbir Singh Badal, MP and president
of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)
This is by far the most ambitious and boldest initiative yet
in the past sixty years. While the total power generation capacity,
meant drive to take Punjab into the next orbit of s 1980 MW Thermal
Power Plant near Talwandi Sabo is expected to be the harbinger
of a veritable "Power Revolution" in Punjab, it marks
the beginning of a major power generation thrust to make Punjab
self-reliant on the energy front which also forms the cornerstone
of SAD-BJP Government's development agenda. The Government has
planned a net addition of 7500 MW of power generation capacity
in the next 3-4 years which if achieved would not only help bridge
the over 30% present deficit between peak power demand and availability
in the State but would also make the State surplus in power for
the next decade or so.
The SAD-BJP government has repeatedly asserted that it is poised
to fulfill its pre-election commitment to make Punjab the country's
first power surplus state in the next three and half years.
The present impetus on power generation represents a paradigm
shift over time in the State Government's approach towards the
power sector. After the enactment of the Electricity Act in 2003
by the Union Government, the State Government's approach was more
market-oriented, based upon the premise that it would be more
economical to purchase power from producers near ports or pit-heads
than to generate thermal power within Punjab . However, in the
absence of perfect market conditions coupled with nation-wide
shortage of power and fast rising power needs of the State, this
led to burgeoning of gap between demand and supply forcing the
cash-strapped Board to undertake major power purchases, often
at exorbitant rates.
The present Government has embarked upon setting up a series
of new power plants at Talwandi Sabo (1980 MW), Rajpura (1320
MW) and Gidderbaha (2640 MW) to bridge this yawning gap. While
land acquisition proceedings in the case of Rajpura are nearing
completion, in the case of Gidderbaha plant, notification under
Section 4 has been issued earlier in August. In addition, work
on GVK's Goindwal Sahib (540 MW) Thermal Plant is also expected
to commence in October with land having been acquired and handed
over to the company. The next four-five months would be witness
to the commencement of work on all these power projects. The Phase
IV of Lehra Mohabbat Thermal Plant (250 MW) is presently undergoing
trials and is likely to enter commercial production by October.
In addition, the State has already inked agreements to secure
over 4500 MW of power as its share in Central Power Projects as
well as from Independent Power Producers.
On the other hand, giving details of the 1980 MW Talwandi Sabo
Thermal Power Plant, PSEB Member (Finance & Accounts) Anurag
Aggarwal who is also the CMD of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)
Talwandi Sabo Power Limited stated that the plant would be hitherto
the biggest Thermal Power Plant in the State. The Super Critical
Thermal Power Plant, which is being constructed by Sterlite Energy
Limited of Vedanta Group on Build, Own, Operate (BOO) basis, would
entail an investment of over Rs. 9000 crore. The Vedanta Group
is an international $ 8.2 billion conglomerate having business
interests in Aluminum, Zinc, Power and other areas and is currently
operating power plants with installed capacity of 1383 MW in India
with another 2400 MW plant under construction in Orissa.
Using the most contemporary technology, the Talwandi Sabo Plant
would be energy-efficient utilizing 15% less coal and eco-friendly
by adhering to the strict pollution norms for the industry. Its
iconic 275 metre tall chimney would be highest in the State. He
stated that the bid document provides for a 48 month time period
for commissioning of the Plant and PSEB has incorporated very
attractive incentive clauses to secure its early completion. It
is, therefore, hoped that the first 660 MW Unit of the Plant would
be commissioned by December 2011 and the other two units of 660
MW each by mid-2012, he added.
Highlights
§ Hitherto biggest Thermal Power Plant in Punjab
§ First Power Project through Open Bid route
§ To be set upon BOO basis by Sterlite Energy Limited of
Vedanta Group – a US $ 8.2 B conglomerate
§ Capital investment of over Rs. 9000 crore
§ First Super Critical Technology Plant in Punjab
§ Tallest Stack height of 275 metre (1000 feet)
§ Eco-friendly technology, no fly ash
§ Likely commissioning from December 2011
§ Part of 7500 MW power generation programme
GO AND 16 NGOS NABBED BY VIGILANCE BUREAU
FIVE ACCUSED CONVICTED BY SPECIAL COURTS
Chandigarh September 2, 2008
State Vigilance Bureau, in a drive against corruption in public
life, nabbed one Gazetted Officers (GO) 16 Non-Gazetted Officers
(NGOs) in 16 different cases last month and was able to secure
the conviction of five accused in different cases.
Disclosing this here today Mr. Harcharn Singh Bhullar, SSP-cum-Joint
Director (Admn.) Vigilance Bureau Punjab said that Bureau has
put up its best efforts to eradicate corruption amongst public
servants and others in every sphere in the State. In this direction,
the Vigilance officers have registered trap cases, disproportionate
assets cases and criminal cases and ensured that suspect did not
escape judicial punishment in the various courts in the State.
He said that during the month of August, VB had registered 4
criminal cases, three Vigilance enquiries and one disproportionate
assets case against the suspected officials to probe into the
allegations. In the last month, the Special courts had convicted
six accused including five NGOs after founding them guilty on
graft charges and imprisoned one year to two years jail terms
with fine. In case of default in depositing fine, the accused
have to undergo more imprisonment.