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In Brief
New standing committee set up
The Power Ministry has set up a Standing Committee for monitoring power projects on a weekly basis. The SC, known as Power projects Monitoring Committee, has been set up under the chairmanship of Special Secretary (Power). The other members on the committee are the CMDs of all Central PSUs concerned, concerned members of CEA and all joint secretaries in the power ministry. In order to ensure proper feedback from the states and the private sector, a sub-committee within CEA under Member (Planning) has been constituted to assist the PMC. Region specific teams headed by chief engineers of CEA have also been set up to assist the sub-committee.
No clearance yet for Hassan project
The CEA has not issued the techno-economic clearance for the 189-mw Hassan power project of Hassan Power Supply Co. Ltd. It has sought clarification for the project from the Government of Karnataka regarding the acceptability of naphtha as a fuel for the project and changes in the cost estimates on account of changes in the source of water from Cauvery river to ground water. The Central Ground Water Authority, in mid-February, cleared the project for tapping 1.5 mgd of ground water.
DPRs returned to Jharkhand govt
DPRs of the Sankh HEP Stage II (2x90+2x3 = 186 mw), the Kadhwan HEP (5x90 = 450 mw) and the Kanhar PSS (3x100 = 300 mw) have been returned to the Jharkhand government for resubmission along with comments of the CEA and CWC.
Five projects in Uttar Pradesh
Five projects in Uttar Pradesh are targeted for commissioning during the 10th Plan. These include the three NTPC-proposed Rihand STPP (1,000 mw), Dadri-II (490 mw) and the Unchahar-III (210 mw), and two state sector projects, Anpara C (500 mw) and the 210-mw Parichha extension.
New fuel in the making
The Department of Biotechnology has found that microorganisms can convert organic compounds to inflammable gases such as methane, hydrogen etc., which can be used as fuel for power projects. Microorganisms cannot, however, convert toxic organic compounds to electricity. More details are awaited.
(1/6/02)
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