ITANAGAR, Aug 31: Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) CMD, I S Jha gave details of the present status of the Comprehensive Scheme for Strengthening of Transmission & Distribution Systems (CSST&DS) in Arunachal Pradesh, and informed that land for only 38 sub-stations out of the total 94 sub-stations have been made available by the state government, and requested land allotment for at least 33 sub-stations as top priority.
In his presentation in the review meeting of the ongoing transmission and distribution of power being implemented by the PGCIL on Thursday, Jha said that 29 transmission lines (1917kms) and 70 distribution lines (1923 kms) are being laid, covering the entire state.
Under the scheme, 94 sub-stations are to be established, of which, contract works for 61 have been already awarded and work is in full swing. However, since land for only 38 sub-stations is available, he requested allotment of land at the earliest for at least 33 sub-stations.
“We need land for 33 sub-stations on priority as these are necessary to further the transmission and distribution lines,” he said.
Jha said process of awarding contract for rest of the sub-stations are on but admitted that due to difficult terrains and other factors, response were not forthcoming for few.
He also cited few hurdles like forest clearance and compensation issues hampering speedy laying of the transmission and distribution lines, which Chief Minister Pema Khandu assured to take up with concerned authorities and local administration.
On the issue of the increase in estimated cost due to cost escalation, the Chief Minister said the state government will impress upon the centre on it as a review of the scheme is under consideration by the centre.
The state Department of Power raised the issue of capacity building of its officials as once the project is completed, the PGCIL will hand it over to the department for running and maintenance. The CMD informed that there is a provision of capacity building and assured to assist the state department to avail it.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved the CSST&DS in Arunachal Pradesh along with Sikkim at an estimated cost of Rs 4754.42 crore.
MoU was signed between PGCIL and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh for implementation of the scheme in the state in February 2015 at an estimated cost of Rs 3199.45 crores.
Till 2014, only five out of 20 districts of Arunachal Pradesh were connected to transmission network at 132/220 KV. The 33 KV system is the backbone of power distribution system in the state. Due to low population density spread over its geographical area of 84,000 sq km, power demand in Arunachal Pradesh is scattered over large distances.
