Foundation stone of 1980 MW power plant laid

Foundation stone of 1980 MW power plant laid
Big leap forward in power sector
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Banawala/Talwandi Sabo, September 2
With the commencement of the 1980 MW Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant, Punjab would become power surplus. The claim was made by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and other SAD (B) leaders here today.

Stalwarts of the ruling SAD-BJP combine project unity on stage

The plant, described as super critical, is being constructed by the Mumbai-based Sterlite Energy Ltd., a company of the Vedanta group, which is constructing it on the build, own and operate (BOO) basis. As per the terms of the power purchase agreement, the state would get power units at the rate of Rs 2.86 (tentative levellised tariff), which would remain in effect for 25 years.

Sidelights

SAD supporters sitting on the roofs of buses on their way back home after attending the foundation stone laying ceremony of the 1980 MW at village Banwala (Mansa) on Tuesday.

People make their way to the rally venue from adjoining areas to hear the leaders.

According to the senior officials of the plant, it would generate 475 lakh units per day, after being commissioned fully. The quantity of coal used for fuel would be 8.7 million tonnes per annum. About the availability of the coal, they said it would be from the MCL coalfields, Orissa, and would be of "E" grade in quality. Hundred cusecs of water would be taken from the Joga canal flowing in the area to help run the turbines.
"It would be a mega project as the land acquired for the purpose is 2113 acres. The owners of the land have been given 30 per cent additional allowance besides the market value. More over, the families whose land was acquired, have been promised jobs in the power plant. Further, it has also been said that there would be no stamp duty if those who have been dispossessed, buy land in any other area with the money," said chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.
The cost of the project is tentatively estimated at Rs 9,000 crore. The commissioning of the units, of 660 MW each, would be done in three phases. The first unit would be commenced in December 2011, second in April 2012, and the third unit in August 2012.

Noted Punjabi singer Habhajan Mann performing at the function. — Tribune photos: Malkiat Singh

Giving particulars, the PSEB and Vedanta group, mentioned that there would be 400KV transmission lines and the system would be developed through a power grid.
As an environment-friendly step, the stacks would be fixed at a height of 275 meters and there would be low emission of gases and suspended particles. The discharge of water would be nil and the fly ash would be utilised in every possible way.
To make the plant eco-friendly, 30 per cent of the land area would be kept under the green belt. Electro-static precipitator (ESP) would have 99.99 per cent efficiency and the dust extractors and sprinkler system would also be there for the coal handling plant to minimise pollution.
Giving details of the project, SAD chief Sukhbir Badal 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 per cent in such a short span of time. After all the projects see the light of the day, we would be in a position to sell power to other states.
The SAD-BJP government has embarked upon setting up a series of power plants at rajpura (1320 MW) and Gidderbaha (2640 MW) besides Talwandi Sabo. Work on Goindwal Sahib (540 MW) is also expected to begin in October.