Lok Sabha Question No. 173 (STARRED), answered on 2023-12-14
Subject: Progress of Power Projects in Assam
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Pradyut Bordoloi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.173

## ANSWERED ON 14.12.2023

## PROGRESS OF POWER PROJECTS IN ASSAM

*173.   SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  progress  of  the  Silchar  Power  Project,  Margherita Thermal  Power  Project,  Namrup  Replacement  Power  Project  and  Lakwa Replacement Power Project in Assam;
- (b) the reasons for the delay in the completion of the said power projects;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to expedite the completion of the unfinished power projects in Assam;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  of  specific  timelines  set  for  their  completion  and  if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Government has conducted any analysis to determine the long-term impact of the said power projects on Assam's ecology, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) the  quantum  of  funds  allocated  for  the  said  projects  as  well  as breakdown  of  the  allocated  funds  that  have  been  utilised  for  each  of  the specified power projects in Assam?

A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

(SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a) to (f) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) IN RESPECT OF LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.173  FOR  REPLY  ON  14.12.2023 REGARDING PROGRESS OF POWER PROJECTS IN ASSAM ASKED BY SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI.

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- (a) : The Silchar Power Project, Margherita Thermal Power Project, Namrup Replacement Power Project and Lakwa Replacement Power Project in State of  Assam,  were  taken  up  by  the  Assam  Power  Generation  Company  -  a company owned by the State Government.  The status of these plants have been reported as follows:
- (b)  :  Two  projects  (i)  Namrup  Replacement  Power  Project  &  (ii)  Lakwa Replacement Power Project have been successfully commissioned.
- (iii)  Silchar  Power  Project:  Due  to  non-availability  of  sufficient  gas  on  firm basis  from  ONGC  Ltd.'s  two  small  and  marginal  fields  i.e.  Baskandi  and Bhubandar in Cachar districts of Assam, Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL) had abandoned Silchar Power Project.
- (iv)  Margherita  Thermal  Power  Project:  APGCL  had  intended  to  develop  a 2x800  MW  pit  head  coal  based  Thermal  Power  Project  at  Margherita. Accordingly,  DPR  was  prepared  by  NTPC  Ltd.  with  the  project  cost  of  Rs. 16,850  Cr.  in  Year  2019.  APGCL  had  submitted  coal  linkage  request  to MoC&MoP,  for  4.11  MTPA  coal  from  North  East  coal  fields  of  Coal  India Limited (CIL) at 90% PLF, considering coal of GCV 6900 kcal/Kg.

|   Sl. No. | Name of Project                  | Capacity (MW)           | Location                                                     | Present Status    |
|-----------|----------------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|         1 | Silchar Power Project            | 1x30                    | Sonabarighat, District Cachar                                | Project abandoned |
|         2 | Margherita Thermal Power Project | 2x800                   | Village Saleki NC, MakumMauza, Margherita, District Tinsukia | Under Planning    |
|         3 | Namrup Replacement Power Project | 98.4 (1x62.50+ 1x36.15) | Namrup, District Dibrugarh                                   | COD on 16.07.2021 |
|         4 | Lakwa Replacement Power Project  | 69.755 (7x9.965)        | Lakwa, District Charaideo                                    | COD on 26.04.2018 |

……..2.

Central Electricity Authority (CEA) had advised APGCL that due to nonavailability of sufficient coal in North East coal fields, it may not be possible to  develop  Margherita  TPP  as a  pit  head  plant  as  given  in  DPR.  Therefore, APGCL needs to revisit  the  DPR.  And  if  APGCL  agrees  to  same,  then  coal from  other  coal  companies  like  ECL,  BCCL  and  CCL  may  be  sourced. Accordingly, APGCL was advised to approach CIL for their Coal requirement from the above mentioned Coal Companies. However, no communication in this regard has been received from APGCL.

(c) & (d) : In  meeting  held  on  03.10.2023,  Hon'ble  Chief  Minister,  Govt.  of Assam  had  instructed  Managing  Director,  APGCL  to  look  for  possibility  of implementation of Margherita Coal Based Thermal Power Project considering the anticipated increase in coal production by CIL.

(e) : Environmental Clearance from Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is to be obtained before setting up of Thermal Power  Project  in  the  country.  Environment  Clearance  covers  aspects  like Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), Environment Management Plan (EMP) etc.  Two  nos.  commissioned  projects  i.e.  Namrup  Replacement  Power Project & Lakwa Replacement Power Project had been accorded Environmental Clearance.

- (f) : Quantum  of  funds  allocated  for  Namrup  Replacement  Power Project  &  Lakwa  Replacement  Power  Project  as  well  as  breakdown  of allocated funds that have been utilized are as follows:

|   Sl. No. | Name of Project                  |   Total Projects Cost (INR Cr.) | Fund Source                                                                                                                                                                |
|-----------|----------------------------------|---------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Namrup Replacement Power Project |                          901    |  Equity (APGCL)-207.14 Cr.  Govt. of Assam (GOA) Equity-208.86 Cr.  PFC Loan-485 Cr.                                                                                    |
|         2 | Lakwa Replacement Power Project  |                          245.87 |  Asian Development Bank (ADB)Grant-202.54 Cr.  Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan-22.51 Cr.  Govt. of Assam (GOA) Loan- 1.31 Cr.  Govt. of Assam (GOA) Equity-19.50 Cr. |

Silchar  Power  Project  has  been  abandoned  &  Margherita  Thermal  Power Projects is under planning.

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