Karnataka signs MoU with THDCL

Bengaluru The Karnataka Power Corporation Limited and Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDCL) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to take up accelerated development of various power projects worth Rs 15,000 crore.

The projects will include hydro, solar (floating and ground mounting) and pumped storage projects. THDCL Director (Technical) Bhupender Gupta and Karnataka Energy Department Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta inked the pact. The MoU pertains to the development of a 100 MW floating solar PV plant at the Kadra Dam reservoir in Uttara Kannada district and the establishment of 170 MW ground-mounted rooftop solar PV plant on the premises of KPCL plants and a 1500 MW pumped storage plant at Varahi in Shimoga district, according to a press release quoting Energy Minister K J George. “The Centre has assured that the power generated under this MOU will prioritise the Karnataka state government. We also need power to address the state’s rising demands,” George was quoted as saying.

He said the Karnataka government would work towards executing the MOU at the earliest. “This is a flagship scheme and benefits the state immensely,” the minister added. Gupta said that these projects, once finalised, will lead to an investment of more than Rs 15,000 crore in Karnataka by THDCL on mutually agreed terms and conditions. Right now, the task is to prepare the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), take up the feasibility study, and get approvals, and for that, THDCL has assured that immediate steps will be taken, he said.