State govt in way to provide reliable power : Energy Minister

In order to provide 24×7 quality and reliable power supply to all

consumers, Energy Department has been taking several measures in power

generation, transmission and distribution sectors. OPGC added 1,320 MW to its

capacity in 2019 to ensure energy security for the State. With the present

generation capacity of ~7920 MW, the state is able to meet the average peak

power of around 4,500 – 5,000 MW conveniently. The T&D infrastructure has

grown commensurately with the increase in consumer numbers as well as the

growing demands of the industrial & service sectors, Said Sri Pratap Keshari

Deb, Minister Energy while addressing the Press today at Geeta Gobinda Sadan.

Giving a detailed note on the Budget 2023-24 Minister Sri Deb said that

the transmission system availability is more than 99.9% in last 10 years.

Provisions have been made in the Budget to address low voltage issues in few

pockets of the last mile consumers. We have launched a new Renewable Energy

Policy during MIO, 2022. Budgetary provisions have been to implement that

Policy. In this budget, Rs.50 Crore has been provided for Green Energy

Evacuation Corridor (new scheme). Another Rs.50 Crore has been provided for

Odisha Renewable Energy Development Fund (new scheme). We have kept a

target of more than 10,000MW RE generation capacity addition in the state by 2030.

The Budget has contemplated two umbrella schemes, namely, “Chief

Minister’s Power Development Program (CMPDP)”– allocation Rs.1,446.50

Crore and “Chief Minister’s Energy Conservation Program (CMECP)”–

allocation Rs.272.60 Crore by consolidating ongoing schemes & proposed new

schemes. Budget allocation for the major components of CMPDP like ODSSP

Rs.832.5 Crore, for SCRIPS Rs.364.98 Crore, for DRPS Rs.100 Crore and for

Green Energy Evacuation Corridor is Rs.50 Crore (new scheme).

More than 100 number of 33/11 KV sub-stations shall be commissioned by

March 2024 to improve the voltage in low voltage pockets. For ensuring

Disaster resilient power infrastructure, schemes like Radial to Ring Conversion

Project (RRCP Phase-II), State Capital Region Improvement of Power System

(SCRIPS), Disaster Resilient Power System (DRPS Phase-II) are planned for

implementation and a budget provision of Rs. 477 Crore has been kept

collectively. Under the CMECP, a budget provision of Rs.250 Crore has been

made for Household Energy Efficiency Program (new scheme) with an

objective of promoting use of energy efficient home/ household appliances.

About 1,000 nos. of Energy Clubs are actively operating in schools as part of

energy conservation & energy efficiency awareness program. It is proposed to

have such clubs in all high schools. The Department also continued with its

flagship program Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana (BGJY) with provision of Rs.150

Crore for 2023-24 to electrify all left over households by August 2023. It is

relevant to mention that Rs.415 Crore has already been provided to the

DISCOMs for providing electricity to the left over habitations & households

after closure of SAUBHAGYA in 2021. In order to prevent electrocution of

elephants, a budget provision of Rs.50 Crore is kept in 2023-24 under Elephant

Corridor Scheme. Rs.690.2 Crore has already been allocated so far for

strengthening of electrical infra.

Sri Nikunja Bihari Dhal, Additional Chief Secretary to Energy

Department said that GRIDCO is supplying bulk power to DISCOMs at an

average price of Rs.3.12/unit (FY 2022-23), which is one of the lowest in the

country. GRIDCO’s financial sustainability is critical to energy security of the

State. GRIDCO’s outstanding liability as on 31.12.2022 is about Rs.6,500

Crore. Hence Govt. has started providing soft loan to GRIDCO at 5 percent per

annum interest rate & 5 years moratorium period. Rs.700 Crore soft loan has

been provided during FY 2022-23. Rs.700 Crore has been proposed for FY

2023-24.