Power, Transmission projects to get a push during Modi-Sirisena meet.

NTPC's 500 megawatt (MW) coal-based power project at Sampur, Trincomalee and Power Grid Corporation's over-sea and under-sea transmission line project connecting India and Sri Lanka are expected to get a needed push during the coming meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and new Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena.

The project, which NTPC had proposed in June 2005, entails an investment of Rs. 2,000 crore. It is yet to get various clearances from the Sri Lankan government agencies.

The transmission project, proposed in 2007-08 to transfer 1,000 MW from India to Lanka, needs an investment of Rs. 3,000 crore. However, both the governments, Power Grid and Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) are yet to settle various technical and other issues before a formal agreement.

An NTPC spokesperson told Business Standard: 'The coal-based project is a joint venture with CEB. The company has initiated a process to get environment clearance from the Lankan government. The public hearing will be in a month.' An NTPC team is stationed in Lanka and is pursuing the project.

The spokesperson said the two governments signed an agreement in October 2013 to develop a coal-based plant in Trincomalee as a joint venture between CEB and NTPC. The initial capacity will be 500 MW, extendable to 1,000 MW. Further, power from the Sampur plant could be exported to India.


BS