Trinamool Congress Government in West Bengal has always been proactive towards green and alternative sources of power. The Government announced that along with this initiative, steps will be taken to simultaneously reduce the power tariff in the next 2-3 years following new captive block regulations.
West Bengal State Electricity Corporation already operates one pump storage hydel project in Purulia. Additionally, the West Bengal Government is seeking a green energy fund to build two pump storage hydel power plants in Purulia- Turga (1,000 MW) and Bandhu (900 MW). The State is also planning to set up a 1,200-MW solar power plant to support these two hydel power plants.
At an event at the MCC Chamber of Commerce and Industry State Power Minister Manish Gupta also stressed on reduction of conventional power tariffs also. “We have got six captive blocks. We think we will be able to get coal at lower cost than before. With this, there is a possibility that power tariff may get lower in the next 2-3 years,” said Mr Gupta.
He said the final tariff will also depend on other factors like freight and other costs. He also added that the cost of coal for the state discom, WBPDCL, may come down to Rs 1,800 per tonne from the earlier Rs 2,600 per tonne,
Simultaneously there is another initiative of the Government called “Shobar Ghorey Aalo”. This is a campaign launched where the vision is to have total electrification in all districts. The aim is such that every single household should have electricity by the end of financial year 2015-16.