Should Power Infrastructure Works in Nagpur and Amravati be Accelerated?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Urgent need to expedite power infrastructure projects in Nagpur and Amravati.
- Future planning must account for population growth by 2035.
- Significant funding required: Rs 713 crore for Nagpur, Rs 242 crore for Amravati.
- Protection of underground cables is essential for safe power distribution.
- Focus on new energy initiatives like Kusum-B Scheme.
Mumbai, July 7 (NationPress) As the demand for electricity in Nagpur and Amravati districts surges due to the rapid growth of industrial, residential, and commercial projects, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday urged officials to accelerate the implementation of the approved power infrastructure projects in these regions.
He called for immediate strategic planning to address future power requirements, taking into account the anticipated population growth by 2035, and to formulate a detailed power infrastructure development plan for both districts.
This discussion took place during a review meeting at Vidhan Bhavan focused on power distribution and transmission initiatives in the Nagpur district, which includes the Koradi and Khaparkheda power plants.
Present at the meeting were Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Minister for Renewable Energy Atul Save, Minister of State for Finance Adv. Ashish Jaiswal, Minister of State for Energy Meghna Bordikar, along with MLAs Ashish Deshmukh, Mohan Mate, Pravin Datke, and Charansingh Thakur.
The Chief Minister pointed out that the demand for power in the Nagpur district is escalating due to significant investments in various infrastructure projects. He emphasized the need for the timely completion of the works approved under the current funding for power sector development in Nagpur and Amravati districts.
He highlighted that several new projects are on the horizon, necessitating the energy department to take decisive action.
According to him, approximately Rs 713 crore will be required for the Nagpur district and Rs 242 crore for the Amravati district to meet the needs of the power sector, and budget allocations should be made accordingly.
Moreover, he underscored the importance of implementing robust measures to protect underground cables from damage caused by various agencies. He proposed the use of secure cable ducts to prevent wiring damage in power distribution due to new projects in the districts, ensuring safe power distribution.
“We must prioritize the Revised Power Sector Scheme, Kusum-B Scheme, Solar Agricultural Pump Scheme (on-demand basis), transformer capacity enhancements, the establishment of new power plants, and the creation of new sub-stations,” stated the Chief Minister.