NHPC pursuing statutory clearances for Teesta Hydroelectirc project

NHPC is now trying to garner all statutory clearances for Teesta stage-IV hydroelectric project to receive approval from the Public Investment Board.

The Ministry of Power made it clear that PIB approval will only be forthcoming after these clearances are in place.

The cumulative expenditure incurred on the project up to June 2011 stands at Rs 35.22 crore, with a budget expenditure of Rs 79.30 crore for the ongoing fiscal. The total cost of the project, at June 2009 price levels, has been estimated at Rs 3,594.74 crore.

The 520 MW HEP, located in Sikkim, is a run-of-river scheme proposed to utilize the hydel potential of the river Teesta. The project envisages the construction of a 45 m high concrete dam across the Teesta river, a surface power house on the left bank of the river, with four turbine units of 40 MW capacity, each, and four pressure shafts of 7 m diameter. The project is expected to afford an annual energy generation of 720 million units, assuming 90% performance.