Chairing the review meeting of the Energy Department here on Wednesday Chief Minister Hemant Soren said that all the resources including coal and water are available for power generation in Jharkhand, yet electricity is not being produced according to State’s needs. “We have to take electricity from other sources. Power system should be improved. This will not only make the State self-sufficient in the energy sector, but will also increase revenue,” he said.
At the meeting, departmental officials informed the CM about the updated status of schemes related to energy development, production, transmission, distribution and service.
The CM said that the dependence on DVC for electricity has to be eliminated. He said that for the power supply in seven districts with DVC command area, expensive power is purchased. This leads to loss of revenue. He said that the work of building transmission lines and substations in the DVC command area should be expedited. It was informed by the department that the transmission line and sub-station between Latehar-Chatra is ready. With the commissioning of this, the dependence on DVC for electricity in another district will be eliminated. Where the power has to be purchased for about five rupees per unit from the DVC, it will get about three rupees per unit of electricity.
Soren said, “By promoting renewable energy, we can reduce the cost of electricity generation and the cost involved. Take the initiative to build a solar power based power system. Also explore the potential of hydel-power plants along the banks of Dam etc.” The department informed that a plan has been prepared to construct an ultra mega solar power plant and solar power park. The CM also directed to make arrangements for renewal energy in all districts.
Currently the Energy Department is losing about 34 per cent of revenue from electricity. About 76 percent consumers of the state are getting electricity bills.The state needs about 2200 MW of power every day. It supplies around 600 megawatts from DVC, 597 mega watts from NTPC and 215 mega watts from the central grid. There are about one lakh transformers in the state, out of which 4488 transformers are defective.
New meters are being installed in all districts under the smart metering program. About 3.5 lakh smart meters will be installed in Ranchi. Strengthening, strengthening and renovation of sub stations, transmission lines, smart metering, grids, transformers etc. are being done under the Jharkhand Power Improvement Program. Many more under DVC command area including Barkagaon, Ramgarh, Barhi, Petarwar, Hunterganj, Simaria, Gola, Dugdha, Gawan and Nirsa. Process is underway to construct new sub-stations and transmission lines in the areas. 45 thousand farmers in the state have submitted applications for solar water pumps.
Meanwhile, holding the Board of Directors meeting of Greater Ranchi Development Authority (GRDA) the CM asked officials not to build tall buildings around the Assembly premises. “Have uniformity in accommodation to be built for ministers and senior officials. Design of these houses should be decided by meeting with the Chief Secretary. Quality is essential in this work. Give details of what will be the utility of the old housing being vacant in the future. Necessary steps should be taken to rehabilitate the displaced. Housing is ready. Work to shift displaced families to built houses. Use caution in selecting displaced families,” he said.
MD of GRDA, Vinay Kumar Choubey told the CM that the houses to be constructed for the ministers, MLAs and senior officers will not be above G plus two. New houses have been constructed to rehabilitate the displaced. All residences are 1250 square feet and the plot area is 2700 square feet. This construction work has been done on 52.823 acres.
The CM was told that there is a plan to auction the land for the use of common people. About 15 hundred crores can be received from the auction. All these land plots are away from the Assembly. During the session, there will be no problem for the people doing economic activity.
The Chief Minister was informed that land has been allotted for the IT Park. 32 institutions have been given land in this land. Some of them have started construction work. The construction work of the Indian Institute of Management is in progress.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh, Development Commissioner KK Khandelwal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Rajiv Arun Ekka, Secretary Himani Pandey, Managing Director of Greater Ranchi Development Authority Vinay Kumar Choubey, A. K. Dwivedi, GM, GRDA Company Secretary SK Bathuwal and others.
