NHPC to build 320 MW hydel units in Orissa

Orissa government has signed a MoU with central public sector

National Hydro-Power Corporation will set up three hydel units down Hirakud reservoir at an investment of Rs 3,000 crore.

An MoU has been signed by NHPC with the Orissa government for a formation of joint venture company of Sindol-1, with 100 MW; Sindol-I,I also with 100 MW; and Sindol-II,I with 120MW, hydro-electric project in the first phase.

The MoU was signed among Oriss government’s energy secretary G Mathivathanan, OHPC managing director Sahadev Khatua and NHPC’s CMD ABL Srivastav. “The three units, with least impact on environment and least inconveience to public as compared to thermal power projects can be constructed in four years,” chief minister Naveen Patnaik who was present during MoU signing, said.

The three projects under the JVC would be set up in the downstream of river Mahanadi in Sambalpur, Sonepur and Boudh districts with zero displacement and no damage to the local ecology, the chief minister said.

While NHPC would have 51 per cent stake in the JVC, OHPC’s share is 49 per cent, chief secretary BK Patnaik said adding the state would get 12 per cent free power from these projects and one per cent of the cost of power generation is to be spent on peripherial development activities.