MARCH 23:Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, visited Bhubaneswar today for a detailed review meeting with senior officials of the Government of Odisha, focusing on the state’s power sector development. The meeting covered critical issues including fly ash utilization, capacity addition, transmission infrastructure, and power allocation.
A significant topic of discussion was the target for achieving fly ash utilization. Shri Manohar Lal assured the officials that a joint meeting would be organized with the Ministries of Coal, Environment, and Railways to comprehensively address this issue. The discussions would include the provision of adequate rail rakes for the long-distance transportation of fly ash, aiming to streamline the utilization process across the region.
The Minister also emphasized the growing power demands in the state. Odisha currently has a coal-based thermal power capacity of 20 GW, with an additional 10 GW planned for the coming years, expected to be commissioned within the next 5 to 6 years. To meet these demands, Shri Manohar Lal encouraged the state to focus on developing more pit-head thermal power plants, potentially in collaboration with GENCOs from other states. This initiative would help ensure a steady and efficient supply of energy for the future.
Regarding the transmission infrastructure, Odisha officials shared their intra-state planning strategy and the ongoing progress in strengthening power supply to major cities like Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. The Union Minister was also briefed on the efforts made by Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) in addressing Right of Way (RoW) issues, which have often hindered the expansion of transmission networks. Additionally, the proposal for establishing a Green Energy Corridor within Odisha’s intrastate transmission network will be taken up by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) after March 31, 2025, following the completion of the compilation process.
On the inclusion of Odisha in the next phase of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), Shri Manohar Lal assured the state government that the matter would be addressed appropriately. Regarding power allocation, the Union Minister confirmed that Odisha would receive sufficient power from Phase-II of NLCIL’s Talabira Thermal Power Project, in line with Ministry of Power guidelines.
This visit underscores the Centre’s commitment to strengthening Odisha’s power infrastructure and facilitating sustainable growth in the energy sector, ensuring that the state is well-equipped to meet its growing power needs.