No hope from power projects, Delhi to import power for Commonwealth Games

June 19, 2010 08:56 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 09:51 am IST - NEW DELHI:

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit with Commonwealth Games 2010 Organising Commitee Chairman, Suresh Kalmadi and CWG 2010 mascot 'Shera' in New delhi on Friday. Photo: Ramesh Sharma

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit with Commonwealth Games 2010 Organising Commitee Chairman, Suresh Kalmadi and CWG 2010 mascot 'Shera' in New delhi on Friday. Photo: Ramesh Sharma

Delhi would rely extensively on imported power during the Commonwealth Games due later in October this year as two major power projects that were expected to go significantly operational by the time of the event are running behind schedule.

With the 1,500 MW gas-based Pragati III project at Bawana and the 1,500 MW coal-based power plant at Jhajjar in Haryana running behind schedule, the dependence of Delhi on other sources for its power needs during the Games would be more.

According to the latest figures, the Bawana power plant that was to provide 70 per cent of its power (1,050 MW) to Delhi is now only expected to become partially operational in August. While the Rs.5,195 crore plant, for which 3 Million Metric Standard Cubic Meter Per Day (MMSCMD) of imported liquefied natural gas is to be supplied by Petronet MLG Ltd and 0.93 MMSCMD has been allocated by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry, was expected to become functional in March, the project has been unable to keep pace with the scheduled dates.

While three of the gas turbines manufactured in the United States have reached the site and have been placed on the foundation, five of the six generators have also been delivered at the plant. But even then, the Gas Turbine-I is now only expected to become functional in August as against March this year. Similarly GT-II is now expected to be commissioned in September having already missed its May deadline.

But while with great effort they may start producing power, Power Department sources said, their efficiency would not be high as the Steam Turbo Generator-I, which also makes use of waste heat recovery, would not be commissioned before the Games as was planned earlier. Similarly, it has now become clear that Gas Turbines II and III, which were also scheduled to be commissioned before the Games, would not be contributing anything till the sporting event gets underway. As for STG-II, it was as it is scheduled to be commissioned after the Games in November but is now running eight months behind schedule.

The case with the Jhajjar coal-based power plant is equally bad. While earlier two of its three units were scheduled to be completed by October this year, now only one unit appears headed to be completed before the Games.

This power plant comprises three units of 500 MW each and is being set up at a cost of Rs.7,892.42 crore by Aravali Power Company Ltd. In this project, Delhi's share of equity was Rs.592 crore and it was to get 750 MW as its share of the power with the remaining going to Haryana. The coal linkage for the project has been tied up with Mahanadi Coal Fields.

But despite fresh timelines being given for both these projects, sources in the Power Department are sceptical about these mega projects being commissioned before the Games.

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