The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : No end to voltage fluctuation for now

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 16, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

No end to voltage fluctuation for now

By M. Malleswara Rao

HYDERABAD, JULY 15. Southern states will have to suffer from voltage fluctuation and transmission and distribution losses for some more time, at least as far as the power supply from Central stations is concerned. Laying of 800 kv transmission lines in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Pondicherry has been ruled out as of now by the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) on the ground that these states lack sufficient number of generation stations and `bulk load centres', pre-requisites for making high voltage transmission viable. An 800-kv line can handle high outputs from even a 3,000-MW capacity plant.

According to the PGCIL CMD, R.P. Singh, India is not altogether devoid of 88-kv lines. Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat have been provided with this high capacity lines as they have many bulk load centres endowed with industries and generation stations.

The CMD, who was here on Thursday in connection with a conference, told The Hindu that his undertaking would take up more HVDC lines (high voltage direct current) lines for the south as an alternative to 800-kv lines.

As part of the expansion plan, 70,000 circuit km transmission lines would laid in the next 10 years at a cost of Rs. 70,000 crores adding to the existing network of 50,000 circuit km. The PGCIL would bear the cost of Rs. 50,000 crores, while joint ventures would be formed with private parties to mobilise the balance.

Agreements were signed with Tatas and another firm for the purpose. Two more joint ventures would come up for taking up the high voltage lines for the North-Eastern Grid comprising Himachal Pradesh and North-Eastern states.

The CMD announced that Ramagundam III transmission project, connecting the NTPC's Ramagundam III project (500 MW) with Hyderabad, Kurnool and Gooty, would be commissioned by this month-end.

The CMD unveiled an ambitious plan by PGCIL to enter into telecom business in a big way using the optic fibre lines laid on the transmission lines. The project, costing Rs. 934 crores, would be based on 20,000 km length of lines initially covering different parts of the country, including 60 major cities. He said the PGCIL would not have direct contact with cellular users but the service would be provided by joint venture companies being formed with partners possessing IP licence.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh