Goindwal Sahib thermal plant to be completed in two years
Punjab Newsline Network
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
NEW DELHI: The 540 Mega Watts Goindwal Thermal Plant would be commissioned within the next two years, well ahead of schedule. This was stated by G.V.K. Reddy, Chairman of the GVK Group, the company handling the project.

Reddy’s categorical assurance came in an interaction with the media persons after a review meeting of the project held by the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal at Punjab Bhawan here today. Reddy said that the timely completion of the project was a sacred commitment of his company to the people of Punjab and in no case would the commitment be diluted. He said that the company was well on course for commissioning the plant inside the stipulated period.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister also reviewed progress of the Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant with senior representatives of the Vedanta Group, including their Advisor Mr. Kuldip Kaura and CEO B.K. Sharma. Harcharan Bains, Media Advisor to Chief Minister, assisted Badal in the two meetings.

These meetings were the first in a series of monthly reviews ordered by the Deputy Chief Minister. The monthly review meetings, to be chaired by Sukhbir Singh Badal, would be attended by senior power and irrigation officials, Chairman PSEB and the senior representatives of the companies contracted to execute these projects. Badal has also ordered a three monthly regular site visits by government officials and company representatives to all the four thermal plants coming up in Punjab. He would lead these site visits. The Deputy CM would personally monitor progress on these projects. He has directed the concerned officers to keep him updated on a weekly basis on the status of the projects. Mr. Badal made it clear at today’s meetings that no slippage or delay in the execution of these projects would be allowed.

Meanwhile, Reddy said that substantial progress had been made on the initial phase of the Goindwal Thermal Plant project. Land measuring 1068 had been acquired for the purpose. The GVK group had already advanced Rs. 102 crore to Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) who had been tasked with the execution of the project. Similar, M/S Punj Lloyd who had been given the balance of the completion contract had also been given the initial advance by the GVK. The firm has already signed coal transportation agreement with Indian Railways.Civil work regarding roads and boundary walls would be completed by next month.

B.K.Sharma, CEO M/s Sterlite Energy Ltd. informed the Deputy CM that 1980 MW Talwandi Sabo Thermal Project that was awarded to the company 1-9-2008 would be commissioned by the beginning of 2012. He said that financial closure of this plant was expected by month end and civil work has already started at the site of the project.

Principal Resident Commissioner Sudhir Mittal, Principal Secretary Power and Irrigation, Suresh Kumar, PSEB Administrative Member Anurag Aggarwal, PSEB Chairman H.S.Brar were also present at today’s meetings