DIBRUGARH, March 23 - A proposed project of the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) to augment power supply in the city, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), may ultimately have to be scrapped, unless the Dibrugarh district administration and the State government do not immediately interfere.
APDCL cannot go ahead with the power substation at Jiban Phukan Nagar here, as land for the same is yet to be acquired.
APDCL requires about two bighas of land for the 20 MVA power substation. This facility has been planned to meet increasing electricity needs in the Chowkidinghee, Chiring Chapori and Amolapatty areas of the city.
These localities are witnessing large scale construction activity, and as a result, there is a 10-fold greater demand for electricity than of 2015-level power requirements. APDCL scouted around for a suitable plot of land and after seeing several places, zeroed in on the Jiban Phukan Nagar plot.
However, this land is a part of the South Jalannagar tea estate, and falls under the tea periodic category. Now to acquire land that is tea periodic, clearance is required from the Chief Minister. It is learnt that the Dibrugarh district administration is yet to seek the green signal from the Chief Minister�s office.
Some quarters fear that unless the land matter is cleared within this month, the ADB loan itself could be rolled back. In that case, an urgent power sector infrastructure in the city could lapse, and people at large would have to suffer frequent power problems.
