Teesta III HEP unit-I likely to slip to 2012-13; contingency arrangement conceived

Commissioning of Teesta III hydro electric project (HEP) unit-I is likely to slip to the next fiscal, 2012-13 according to the latest report of the Ministry of Power on associated transmission system (ATS) availability.

ATS for the 200 MW unit-I includes a 456 circuit kilometers (CKM) long 400 kV D/C (Q) Teesta-III - Karandighi transmission line, for which stringing is yet to start. As of now only 40 towers have been erected out of a total 621 locations. Pace of works on all major fronts needs to be expedited including forest clearances in Sikkim and Bengal.

Further, a contingency arrangement plan is in place. It includes 67.4 CKM long LILO of one circuit of Teesta V-Siliguri transmission line at Teesta III and 6.2 CKM long energy restoration system (ERS) with 24 towers. Notably, the stringing and tower erection for the above transmission line has not started, thus far. To accelerate pace, increase in resources needs to be expedited along with a supply of complete towers.

Pertinently, works of balance on tower protos, testing and supply are behind schedule and timely procurement of the ERS system is crucial.

The Teesta-III HEP, project under joint venture of Teesta Urja Limited and Government of Sikkim, envisages the construction of a 32.5 m high barrage across the Teesta river and a 125 m x 22 m x 56 m surface power house, with four Kaplan turbine generator units, of 33 MW capacity each. The project would afford an annual energy generation of 594.07 million units (MU), assuming 90% performance.