Power sector set for big boost,520 new 33 KV substations; dedicated feed for farm sector

Reported by Chinmaya Dehury/Edited by Sandeep Sahu

BHUBANESWAR, July 25

With an aim to provide dedicated and quality power to the people of the state, the Odisha Cabinet today cleared proposals for setting up of 520 33/11 KV substations across the state in the next four years at a total cost of Rs 2600 crore. The cabinet also approved the creation of a dedicated feeder for the agriculture and allied sector. This would cost the exchequer an additional Rs 1000 crore out of which Rs 150 crore would be spent in the current fiscal.

“The Cabinet has cleared two proposals of Energy department to provide quality and reliable power to the people as well as the farm sector in the state. It will help minimize the Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) loss in the energy sector,” Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra told media persons after the cabinet meeting. Provision would be made in the state plan for the entire project cost, he said.

The government has planned to complete the process of setting up 33/11 substations throughout the state in the next four years. Presently, the state has 573 33/11 sub-stations, which are unable to provide quality power due to the long length of power lines.

“On an average, about 100 villages depend on one substation in the present context resulting in voltage problem. The state requires about 1200 substations while we have only 573 of them. Besides 520 substations, we will get 110 substations under different programmes, which will enable the state to provide quality power to the people,” said Energy secretary PK Jena.

The Energy department has targeted to reduce AT&C loss by three percent through setting up the substations. About Rs 85 crore can be saved, if the government is able to reduce AT&C loss by one percent.

The state government will also set up a Grid substation to supply power to the substations. The government has already identified land for setting up the substations while a detailed project report (DPR) has been prepared for about 350 projects.

Operation and management charge will be handled by Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) and the bidding process will start soon, said Jena. The government has decided to spend only Rs 200 crore in this fiscal year as the bidding process would take time.

The state Cabinet has also cleared the Rs 1000 crore dedicated agriculture feeder to enable the farm sector to get dedicated power. The government will spend Rs 150 crore in the current fiscal year.

The project will be implemented through OPTCL, which will provide power to bore wells and lift irrigation projects across the state.