GUWAHATI, April 11 � The State government has urged the Union Power Ministry to facilitate coal linkage for the Margherita 660-MW Super Critical Thermal Power Station and the 60-MW Chandrapur Thermal Power Station from the remaining deposits of coal from Margherita and/or other locations of the North Eastern Coal Fields (NECL) after meeting the requirements of the Bongaigaon Thermal Power Project.
Initially, the State government had sought coal linkage for the Margherita and Chandrapur thermal power stations from NECL, but the Union Power Ministry recently clarified that it was not feasible owing to the requirements of the Bongaigaon TPP.
This, and a host of other issues concerning the State�s power situation, were taken up by the government with Union Minister of State (Independent charge) for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal during the Conference of Power at the Assam Administrative Staff College on Friday.
The State government also requested the Union Power Minister to enhance gas linkage for the Namrup Thermal Power Station and the Lakwa Thermal Power Station for increasing their generation capacity.
It was argued by the State government that an increase of allocation of gas from 0.66 MMSCMD to 1.508 MMSCMD by the Oil India Limited would enable the 100-MW NTPS to generate an additional 100 MW. Similarly, with additional gas allocation of 0.6 MMSCMD, the Lakwa TPS can generate up to 220 MW with new machines proposed under ADB funding.
An official release added that the Centre and Assam government stressed maintaining a perfect balance in the country�s needs of generating power by laying equal importance on thermal, hydro and renewable energy sources.
Discussing ways and means for improving the power scenario in the State with Goyal at his residence in the city on Friday, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi assured him of extending all possible support for harnessing the power potential of Assam in harmony with the environment, ecology and people.
The Chief Minister also informed Goyal that the State was all set for exploring the thermal power potential and efforts were being taken for capacity augmentation of the coal mines of the State.
Gogoi added that the State government would provide assistance for the Lower Subansiri Hydro-electric Project including security for the equipment and manpower and would also support all efforts of the Centre in implementation of the project, keeping in mind the effects of the project on the environment, ecology and people in the�downstream areas.
To this, Goyal mentioned that they were waiting for the report of the expert committee which had been appointed to examine the project, and that the Centre would take a decision after receipt of the report.
Gogoi also requested the Union Power Minister to expedite the commissioning of the Bongaigaon Thermal Power Project under the NTPC and also to increase the share of Assam from the project.
