CEA approves 100 mw Turga pump storage hydel project

Kolkata, Aug 20 (PTI) Central Electricity Authority (CEA)has given conditional clearance to the Rs 4,500-crore 1,000 mwTurga Pump Storage Hydel Power Project in West Bengal’sPurulia district. "We have cleared the project and it is now pendingenvironmental clearance," CEA Chairman S D Dubey said heretoday. "We want more such projects in the country for bettergrid stability," he said on the sidelines of CII organisedEnergy Conclave. State Power Minister Shobandeb Chatterjee said the formalletter has not arrived. The approval is conditional for want of some more landwhich will be sorted out in due course, government officialsaid. The state was planning to feed the pump storage hydelproject with 1,200 mw solar power. Initially, both solar andthe power plant was integrated but due to certainreservations on funding they were segregated. Bengal government was seeking grant from clean energy fundto part finance the project for the 1,200 mw solar plant. Chatterjee said state has sought relaxation in 25 mwrestriction of solar power project to get access to the fund. Meanwhile, West Bengal government was planning tointroduce a new solar policy soon encourage solar investmentin the state. PTI BSM KKABK