The Hindu : New power plant in the pipeline

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 26, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

New power plant in the pipeline

By Lalit K. Jha

NEW DELHI, JAN. 25. Encouraged by the successful running of the 330 MW gas-based power plants in the Capital for over a year now, the Delhi Government-owned Pragati Power Corporation (PPCL) Limited has begun work on Pragati-II of similar capacity.

Having received the initial nod from the Government and carried out the basic ground work, the PPCL is understood to be carrying out a pre-feasibility study of the power plant, which would be in the vicinity of Pragati-I.

To be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,000 crores in just 25 acres, proponents of Pragati-II argued that this would drastically improve the power-situation in the Capital, which as of now faces a shortage of 300 to 350 MW on an average. It is believed that the PPCL has already deposited Rs. 10 crores for the removal of slum clusters near the Pragati Power project, so that the new gas turbines could be set up.

Initially the PPCL had asked for about 70 acres of land for setting up Pragati-II, but this was turned down by the Delhi Lieutenant-Governor and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in view of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The DDA has plans to develop Games Village on Yamuna banks. Subsequently, the PPCL brought down the total land required for the purpose to just 25 acres, as it decided to set up the water cooling plant at a distance near a large drain.

"We do not require much land for Pragati-II as the resources of Pragati-I would be used for the new plant,'' officials said. ``We need additional land only for setting up gas turbines, while the water plant of Pragati-I would be used for both the plants,'' officials said. It is believed that senior officials of the PPCL have already had a series of talks with authorities of the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), which has assured it of adequate gas for the proposed project. "We have been told by GAIL that there would be abundant gas available for supply in the next five years. So it is better to begin preparations early,'' officials said.

Once finally approved by the Delhi Government and having received the requisite environment clearance, it would take 36 months to get the Pragati-II operational, officials claimed. With the operationalisation of Pragati-II, the monopolistic tendencies of private players could be kept under check officials pointed out

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