Japanese bank to fund Turga pumped storage project in Purulia

Kolkata: The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has agreed to provide a loan of Rs 5,000 crore for constructing 1,000 megawatt (MW) Turga pumped storage project at Purulia carried out by the state Power department.

An official statement issued by the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) says that the state-of-the-art project has been planned to be implemented with assistance from the Japanese bank. The state cabinet has already approved the project cost of Rs 6,922 crore. The JICA will provide a loan to the tune of Rs 5,000 crore. An agreement has been made between the state government and the JICA on 2 November, 2018.

The JICA that had been roped in by the government would partially finance the 1000 MW Turga project in Ayodhya hills of Purulia district. Four Reversible Pump Turbine units of 250 MW capacity each would be set up. This is the second pumped storage project in Bengal. It may be mentioned that the state government had sought grant from clean energy cess from the Centre but no steps have been taken in this regard so far. It may also said that state power minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay earlier mentioned about the requirement of around a land of 5,000-acre for the project. The state government had approached the Centre to remove the cap of 25 MW for Clean Energy Fund.

Meanwhile, it can be stated that the Power department had taken up various projects to increase the power generation of Bengal. Many EHV sub-stations have been added to the existing system. The government has brought about a huge improvement in generating non-conventional power including solar power.

It is the Bengal government that has declared a new solar policy where solar panels are being installed on the roof tops of various government buildings, school and colleges. The state Power department has been providing roof top solar power generation units.