Govt to spend ₹1,800cr to build 99 more power stations – EQ Mag Pro

Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday said the state government would spend Rs 1,800 crore to set up 99 more 33/11 KV sub-stations to improve power distribution.

Naveen made the announcement while dedicating to the people six high-power grid sub-stations in six districts and a 220 KV transmission line worth Rs 450 crore. The sub-stations have been established in Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Sambalpur, Keonjhar and Khurda districts while the 220 KV transmission line is for Balangir-Kesinga. Naveen said these projects are meant to strengthen the power distribution system and to ensure quality electricity supply to the people.

Farmers, students and women in the six districts will be benefited by the newly-dedicated energy infrastructure while it will also be beneficial for small industries and for irrigation purpose, the CM said. He also stressed on judicious use of energy without wastage.

With an aim to ensure supply of reliable and quality power to the consumers, the state government in 2013-14 had launched the Odisha Distribution System Strengthening Project. It targeted to set up 473 33/11 KV primary sub-stations and its associated power lines across the state.

Naveen announced that 430 sub-stations of 33/11 KV capacity have already been installed under the project at an investment of Rs 3,800 crore in three phases. These projects helped to overcome the low voltage problem in the state, he added.

Sources in the state energy department said that it has prepared a plan to invest Rs 5,600 crore in the next five years to strengthen the power transmission infrastructure, including in rural areas, and improvement of the sector.

Recently, assembly speaker, S N Patro, had formed four committees comprising MLAs to monitor the issues of low voltage, power cuts and strengthening of power infrastructure in the state.

Source: PTI