On 24th February 2024, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi virtually addressed the ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Chhattisgarh’ programme. During the event, He inaugurated, dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of several development projects worth Rs 34,400 crore in Chhattisgarh.
- Major sectors that benefited from the projects include power, coal, roads, railroads, and solar energy.
NTPC’s Lara Super Thermal Power Project:
During the event, PM Modi dedicated the Lara Super Thermal Power Project, Stage-I (2×800 MW(megawatt)) of NTPC Limited (formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation) in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh, to the nation.
- He also laid the foundation stone for the Lara Super Thermal Power Project, Stage-II (2×800 MW) in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh.
Cost:
i.Stage I of the project was built at an investment of around Rs 15,800 crore.
ii.Stage II will be constructed at an investment of Rs 15,530 crore within the available land of Stage-I premises.
Points to note:
i.Stage I is equipped with highly efficient Super Critical technology while Stage II is equipped with Ultra-Super-Critical technology.
ii.These projects will ensure lesser Specific Coal Consumption and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions.
iii.Around 50% of the power generated from these plants will be allocated to Chhattisgarh.
iv.This will also play a major role in developing the power situations in states and Union Territories (UTs) like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Daman & Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
Inaugurated Three ‘First Mile Connectivity Projects’ of SECL:
PM Modi inaugurated three key First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects of South Eastern Coalfields Limited(SECL) built at a total cost of more than Rs 600 crores.
i.Dipka OCP (opencast project) Coal Handling Plant (Dipka).
ii.Chhal OCP Coal Handling Plant (Raigarh).
iii.Baroud OCP Coal Handling Plant (Raigarh).
Note: SECL, headquartered in Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh), is a Miniratna PSU under the Ministry of Coal. It is a subsidiary of Coal India Limited(CIL).
Key Points:
i.The FMC projects will ensure the mechanized movement of coal from pithead to coal handling plants equipped with silos, bunkers, and rapid loading systems through conveyor belts.
ii.This will reduce traffic congestion, road accidents, and adverse impacts of coal mines on the environment and health.
Note: NTPC, headquartered in New Delhi, Delhi, is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) under the Ministry of Power.
About Dipka OCP Coal Handling Plant
i.The plant, built at a cost of Rs 211 crore, has an annual coal handling capacity of 25 MT(Megatonne)
ii.The plant includes a substantial above ground bunker with a capacity of storing 20,000 tons of coal and a 2.1 km long conveyor belt, streamlining the loading process to 4,500 – 8,500 tons of coal per hour.
About Chhal OCP Coal handling plant:
i.The plant, built at a cost of Rs 173 crores, is designed to handle 6 MT of coal annually.
ii.The plant features an overground bunker, a 1.7 km conveyor belt, and a Silo with a capacity of 3,000 tons.
About Baroud OCP Coal handling plant:
i.The plant, built at a cost of Rs. 216 crores, can handle 10 MT of coal annually.
ii.It is equipped with an overground bunker capacity of 20,000 tons and a 1.7 km conveyor belt, the project features a rapid loading system capable of loading 5000-7500 tons of coal per hour
Solar, Road and Railway projects:
i.PM Modi dedicated the Bilaspur – Uslapur Flyover to the nation at a cost of around Rs. 300 Crores. This aims to strengthen the rail infrastructure in Chhattisgarh.
ii.PM Modi also dedicated the 50MW Solar Power Plant in Bhilai to the nation. This will support the utilization of solar energy in operating the trains.
iii.During the event, the rehabilitation and upgradation of a 55.65 km long Section of the National Highway (NH)-49 as 2 land roads with paved shoulders was dedicated to the nation.
- This will ensure the connectivity of Bilaspur and Raigarh.
iv.He also dedicated 52.40 km long section of NH-130, connecting Ambikapur with Raipur and Korba.
SECI unveils India’s largest BESS with a Solar PV Plant in Chhattisgarh
Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has commissioned India’s largest Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) that stores energy using solar energy in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh.
- PM Modi inaugurated SECI’s 100MW(megawatts) Alternating current (AC) Solar photovoltaic (PV) project with 40 MW/ 120MWh (megawatt hours) BESS on 24th February 2024.
Points to note:
i.The project, developed at a cost of Rs 900 crore, will generate around 243.53 million units of energy every year.
ii.The project was developed with the funds from World Bank and the Clean Technology Fund under the Innovation in Solar Power & Hybrid Technologies Project.
iii.This will reduce around 4.87 million tons of CO2 emissions over the next 25 years. This is equivalent to carbon emissions reduced by 8.86 million trees over 25 years.
About the project:
i.BESS with a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant has an installed capacity of 152.325 MWh and a dispatchable capacity of 100MW AC (155.02 MW peak Direct Current(DC)).
ii.The project deployed a bifacial module that reflects the light from the ground generating more electricity than monofacial modules.
iii.The project uses battery storage to store solar energy during the daytime and use it during the evening, the time of peak demand.
Note: A monofacial solar panel absorbs sunlight only from the front surface of the solar panel. The bifacial solar panel features solar cells on both sides.
- The project utilises the previously unused land through tripartite land-use permission.
Benefits:
i.The energy generated through the project will be purchased by the government of Chhattisgarh to meet its energy demand using green electrons.
- SECI has signed a long-term power purchase agreement with Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL).
ii.To ensure seamless integration into the existing power grid, the power generated from the project is evacuated through a 132 kilo-volt (kV) double-circuit double-string transmission line to 220/132 kilovolt (kV) Thelkadih substation of Chhattisgarh State Power Transmission Company Limited (CSPTCL).
Note:
New Delhi (Delhi)-based SECI is a Schedule-A CPSU under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for the implementation of schemes and development of Renewable Energy projects in India and abroad.
About Chhattisgarh:
Chief Minister– Vishnu Deo Sai
Governor– Biswabhusan Harichandan
National Park– Indravati (Kutru) National Park; Kanger Valley National Park
Wildlife Sanctuary– Badalkhol Wildlife Sanctuary; Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary
