UT seeks home ministry nod to purchase Rs 72-crore power

The UT administration has sent a proposal to the ministry of home affairs seeking sanction to purchase power upto `72 crore. Under the present scenario, the administration is allowed to purchase power up to `8 crore, but beyond the set limit, the administration has to take permission from the ministry.

The UT administration has sent a proposal to the ministry of home affairs seeking sanction to purchase power upto `72 crore.

Under the present scenario, the administration is allowed to purchase power up to `8 crore, but beyond the set limit, the administration has to take permission from the ministry.

Confirming the development, superintending engineer MP Singh said, “We have forwarded the proposal to the MHA for clearance. We have floated tenders for purchasing power worth `72 crore. Two firms — National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) and Adani Group —have come up with the proposal.”

In 2013 too, the administration had urged the ministry of power for empowering its administrator for purchasing power upto `100 crore.

The power requirement of the city is met through central generating power stations of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) as determined by the government.

The average load of power in Chandigarh is about 150 MW/day that goes over 300MW during summer season. During the peak season in the months between April and August, the demand goes upto 370 MW. There are nearly 2.1 lakh consumers in different categories. Of these, 1.75 lakh fall in the domestic category.

At present, the power load of the city is fed from the Kishangarh-based 3x100 MVA power transformers, SAS Nagar’s 2x100 MVA and 40MVA line from Dhulkote.

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

For further strengthening the distribution infrastructure standing finance committee (upper) headed by UT adviser Vijay Kumar Dev has also approved the proposal to set up two new GIS (gas insulated substation) near Sector 18 and 26.

This will help to meet the present and future power needs of the adjoining sectors. The cost of the two substations would be around `80 crore and its cables would go underground and is expected to be functional within three years.

Meanwhile, the UT administration’s electricity wing has also started maintenance of transformers and lines to ensure uninterrupted power supply. For maintenance of transformers, scheduled shutdowns are being undertaken across the city so that the residents get uninterrupted power supply during the peak summers.