Lok Sabha Question No. 712 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-06
Subject: Setting up of Power Projects
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Naba (Hira) Kumar Sarania

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.712 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2020

SETTING UP OF POWER PROJECTS

†712.  SHRI NABA KUMAR SARANIA:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to set up power projects in collaboration  with neighbouring countries and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of rules made to ensure the protection of the property and lives of people affected by the projects; and

(c) the details of posts of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes currently lying vacant in NTPC and NHPC along with the time by which these are likely to be filled? A N S W E R

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  POWER,  NEW  &  RENEWABLE ENERGY AND THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

( SHRI  R.K. SINGH)

(a) : India  is  collaborating  for  power  projects  with  the  following  neighbouring countries:

Bangladesh

A 1320 MW (2 x 660 MW) coal-based Maitree Super Thermal Power Project at Rampal in Bangladesh is under construction through Bangladesh India Friendship Power Corporation Limited  (BIFPCL),  a  50:50  joint  venture  company  between  NTPC  and  Bangladesh  Power Development Board (BPDB).

Nepal

Pokhra (1 MW), Trisuli (21 MW),Western Gandak (15 MW) and Devighat (14.1 MW) Projects have been implemented with Indian assistance. In addition, SJVNL is constructing 900 MW Arun-III HEP, which is scheduled for commissioning by year 2022-23.

………..2.

In  addition  to  above,  following  Hydropower  projects  of  mutual  interest  are under discussion:

| Projects                                              | Installed Capacity & Status   |
|-------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Pancheshwar with Rupaligad                            | (4800 + 240) MW               |
| Sapta Kosi High Dam and Sunkosi Diversion cum Storage | 3300 MW                       |

Muzzafarpur  (India)  -  Dhalkebar  (Nepal)  D/c  400kV  transmission  line  has  been completed with collaboration of both India and Nepal.

Further,  the  Indian  portion  of  Gorakhpur  (India)  -Butwal  (Nepal)  400kV  D/c  Cross Border transmission line is being proposed for implementation with 50:50 Joint venture of Nepal Electricity Authority and an Indian PSU.

## Bhutan

Chukha HEP (336MW), Kurichu HEP (60MW), Tala HEP (1020MW) and Mangdechhu (MHPA)  (720  MW)  Projects  have  been  implemented  with  Indian  assistance  (under  intergovernmental mode of Implementation). The transmission systems associated with these projects have also been implemented with Indian assistance.

Punatsangchhu-I  (1200MW)  HEP,  and  Punatsangchhu  II  HEP  (1020MW)  are  under construction Projects with Indian assistance (under inter-governmental mode of Implementation).

In addition to the above, following Hydro projects are proposed for implementation with Indian assistance:

|   S.No. | Name of the Project      |   Installed capacity (MW) |
|---------|--------------------------|---------------------------|
|       1 | Kholongchu               |                       600 |
|       2 | Chamkharchu - I (Digala) |                       770 |
|       3 | Bunakha                  |                       180 |
|       4 | Wangchu                  |                       570 |
|       5 | Sankosh                  |                      2585 |
|       6 | Kuri Gongri              |                      2640 |
|       7 | Amochu Reservoir         |                       540 |

## Sri Lanka

Trincomalee Power Co. Ltd (TPCL) was formed for setting up 2X250 MW coal based power plant in Trincomalee Region in Sri Lanka.

……….3.

Further, on request from GoSL, proposal has been modified for putting up 300 MW LNG project at Kerawalapitiya near Colombo & 50 MW solar PV project at Sampur in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka.

Joint  Venture  and  Shareholder Agreement  (JVSHA) between NTPC Ltd. and Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has been signed on 25.10.2019 at Colombo, Sri Lanka, for incorporation of a 50:50 Joint Venture (JV) company, for development of the proposed 300 MW LNG Power Project at Kerawalapitiya, Sri Lanka.

In  addition,  a  50  MW  solar  PV  power  project  at  Sampur,  Trincomalee  is envisaged to be developed by the existing JV Trincomalee Power Co. Ltd.

(b) : The  relevant  rules/  regulations  as  prevalent  in  the  neighbouring  countries, where the power projects have been/ are to be developed are followed as and when such projects are set up. The people affected due to land acquisition are compensated for their loss  of  property  and  loss  of  livelihood  as  per  the  extant  Land  Acquisition  Act/  Policy Guidelines of respective countries, where such Project(s) is/ are coming up.

## (c) : As regards NTPC, the details of posts of Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes lying vacant in NTPC as on 01.01.2020 are as below:

| Group   |   Scheduled Castes (SC) |   Scheduled Tribes (ST) |
|---------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
| A       |                      04 |                      08 |
| B       |                      00 |                      00 |
| C       |                      05 |                     157 |
| D       |                      01 |                      15 |

The vacant posts are likely to be filled by 31.12.2020. Backlog of Group C and Group  D  vacancies  exists  mostly  at  Sipat  which  are  due  to  non-availability  of  ST candidates amongst landoustees (as there is an agreement with the State Government to recruit only landoustees) and at Ramagundam, where recruitment process is sub judice.

As  far  as  NHPC  is  concerned,  the  details  of  posts  of  Scheduled  Castes/ Scheduled Tribes lying vacant are as under:

| Group   | SC   | ST   |
|---------|------|------|
| A       | 12   | 15   |
| B       | 02   | 01   |
| C       | -    | -    |
| D       | -    | -    |

The above vacancies shall be filled in the upcoming recruitment exercise.

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