Bhubaneswar, March 23: Union Minister of Power, Manohar Lal, held a review meeting with Odisha government officials on Sunday to discuss the state’s power sector development.
The meeting addressed key issues like fly ash management, capacity expansion, transmission infrastructure, and power allocation. The Minister assured Odisha that a joint meeting with the Ministries of Coal, Environment, and Railways would be held to address fly ash disposal, including the availability of rail rakes for transportation.
Regarding power demand, Odisha informed the Minister about its current 20 GW coal-based thermal capacity, with 10 GW expected in the next five to six years. The Minister encouraged the establishment of more pit-head thermal plants in Odisha, including through joint ventures with other state GENCOs.
On transmission, Odisha shared its plans to strengthen supply to cities like Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, with efforts to resolve Right of Way (RoW) issues. The proposal for a Green Energy Corridor in Odisha’s transmission network will be reviewed after March 31, 2025.
The Minister also assured Odisha that the state would be included in the next phase of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) and that adequate power would be allocated from Phase II of NLCIL’s Talabira Thermal Power Project.
Manohar Lal reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to enhancing Odisha’s power infrastructure for sustainable energy growth.
