PM To Launch Solar, Other Projects In Chhattisgarh On Feb 24

PM To Launch Solar, Other Projects In Chhattisgarh On Feb 24

PM Narendra Modi will launch a slew of solar and other energy-related projects worth Rs 34,400 crore in Chhattisgarh on February 24. The inauguration will take place during ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Chhattisgarh’ programme on the same day. These projects will cater to several important sectors including roads, railways, coal, power, and solar energy among others.

Solar Project

Among a series of steps taken to boost the production of renewable energy in the region, PM Modi shared a plan for the solar PV project at Rajnandgaon which is built at a cost of around Rs. 900 Crore. The project is estimated to generate 243.53 million units of energy annually and plans to mitigate around 4.87 million tons of CO2 emissions over 25 years, equivalent to the carbon sequestered by about 8.86 million trees over the same period.

Thermal Power Project

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also set to launch the NTPC’s Lara Super Thermal Power Project, Stage-I (2×800 MW) to the nation and lay the foundation stone of NTPC’s Lara Super Thermal Power Project, Stage-II (2×800 MW) in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh.

While Stage-I of the station is built with an investment of around Rs 15,800 crore, Stage-II of the project is expected to be constructed on the available land of Stage-I premises. This requires no additional land for the expansion and entails an investment of Rs 15,530 crore. Equipped with highly efficient supercritical technology (for Stage-I) and ultra-supercritical technology (for Stage-II), the project claims to ensure lesser “Specific Coal Consumption” and carbon dioxide emission.

The 50% power from both stages and II is allocated to the Chhattisgarh state, and the project is also estimated to play a crucial role in improving power supply to several other states and UTs. It included such as Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Daman & Diu, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli among others.

Road Projects

There will be an inauguration of the three key First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects in South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), built at a total cost of more than Rs 600 crores. They claim to help build a faster, eco-friendly, and efficient mechanized evacuation of coal. These projects include the Dipka open case project (OCP), the coal handling plant in SECL’s Dipka Area, Chhal and Baroud OCP Coal handling plant in SECL’s Raigarh Area. FMC projects ensure the mechanized movement of coal from pithead to coal handling plants equipped with silos, bunkers, and rapid loading systems through conveyor belts. By reducing the transportation of coal via road, these projects are expected to help ease the living conditions of people residing around coal mines by reducing traffic congestion, road accidents, and adverse impacts on the environment and health around coal mines. It is also leading to savings in transportation costs by reducing diesel consumption by trucks carrying coal from the pit head to railway sidings.

Rail Project

Strengthening the rail infrastructure in the region, a dedicated Bilaspur – Uslapur Flyover at a cost of around Rs. 300 Crores will be built. This can reduce the heavy congestion of traffic and stoppage of coal traffic at Bilaspur going towards Katni. Prime Minister also plans to dedicate a 50MW Solar Power Plant in Bhilai. It can help in the utilisation of solar energy in running trains.

There is also a plan to build a dedicated rehabilitation and upgradation of the 55.65 km long Section of NH-49 to two lanes with paved shoulders. The project can help in improving connectivity between two important cities Bilaspur and Raigarh. PM will also dedicate rehabilitation and upgradation of a 52.40 km long section of NH-130 to two lanes with paved shoulders. The project will help improve the connectivity of Ambikapur city with Raipur and Korba city and can boost the economic growth of the area.