UT gets one-time permission for purchasing Rs 56-cr power

After allocating 30 MW additional power to Chandigarh out of unallocated quota, the power ministry has given one-time permission to the UT administration for purchasing power worth Rs 56 crore at their level.

After allocating 30 MW additional power to Chandigarh out of unallocated quota, the power ministry has given one-time permission to the UT administration for purchasing power worth Rs 56 crore at their level.

Under the present scenario, the administration is allowed to purchase power up to Rs 8 crore and beyond this limit it has to take permission from the power ministry.

At present, the administration has floated tenders for purchasing power of Rs 50 crore from the central generating power stations (CGS) of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).

The permission has been granted on the representation submitted to the power ministry, which consulted the ministry of home affairs (MHA) on the issue.

The representation was submitted to the ministry by a team led by UT adviser KK Sharma. UT home secretary Anil Kumar and finance secretary VK Singh had accompanied the adviser to the meeting held in New Delhi in February.

In the last financial year, UT had purchased power worth Rs 72 crore. At present, the power load of Chandigarh is fed from Kishangarh-based 3x100 MVA power transformers, SAS Nagar's 2x80 MVA and 66-KV line from Dhulkote.

Recently, the administration got approval from the standing committee on power system planning (CPSP) of northern region for setting up a new 220-KV power sub-station for ensuring uninterrupted and better quality power supply as well as to meet its future requirements.

At present, Chandigarh has only one 220-KV sub-station at Kishangarh. The department is also planning for a 220-KV line from Sector 47 to Panchkula 400/220-KV sub-station of Powergrid for strengthening transmission.