New Plans

Bhubaneshwar, Jan. 23: The Odisha government proposes to the revamp power sector in the state. It will invest Rs 7, 500 crores during the next five years to improve the power infrastructure of the state. The amount will be invested mianly to reduce the aggregate transport and commercial losses.

“The amount will be invested to transport 3,500MW power across Odisha. There are enough opportunities to invest in the power sector and private investors should explore it,” said Odisha energy secretary P.K. Jena while speaking at Resonant East, an eastern region summit organised by the Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha (Ipicol) and the Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (Ieema).

Earlier this week, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik had announced that the government would invest Rs 1,650 crore to set up 550 new grid stations in the next two years. The government had also earlier launched the capital expenditure programme (capex) with an investment of Rs 2,400 crore.

“Once the money had been invested, there would be visible change in the power sector. A situation will come up in which the distribution companies will be compelled to reduce the power tariff,” said a senior official of the energy department.

Energy minister Arun Kumar Sahoo said: “The eastern region summit will pave the way for new dimensions in the power sector of the state.”

Stating that Odisha is going to be a power hub in the country, Sahoo said: “Focus should be given on improving the availability of skilled manpower and putting priority on the research and development programme. The Odisha government will provide all support and assistance to anyone who would like to set up business here.”

Ieema president J.G. Kulkarni said: “Odisha alone is endowed with about 27 per cent of the country’s coal reserves. Odisha’s power installation capacity is going to touch 40,000MW in the next five years and it is going to be a major national market for the electrical and power equipment industry.”