Jharkhand CM inaugurates Chatra-Latehar transmission lines, ends dependence on DVC

Hemant calls for generating solar power, promises subsidy

Ranchi, October 1:  Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday called on common people to generate solar power in their backyards and promised subsidy for setting up the plants for which a new scheme will be launched and announced of by-pass for all cities battling traffic problems.

Hemant Soren promised that the surplus power will be bought by the state government which will also help people generate additional income.

The chief minister was speaking after virtually inaugurating and also laying the foundation stone for a total of 100 projects worth Rs 467.28 crore in Chatra district.

Eighty-two projects worth Rs 275.45 crores were inaugurated, and the foundation stone for 18 schemes worth Rs 91.79 crore was laid.

Among the inaugurated projects, a grid substation at Itkhori and 108-km-long Chatra-Latehar transmission line will provide an uninterrupted power supply to large parts of Chatra district, Koderma and Hazaribagh

With the commissioning of this grid sub-station and transmission line, the districts of Chatra, Hazaribag and Koderma districts’ decades-long power woes will come to an end and so will their dependence on Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) for power supply

“Seven districts of the state – Bokaro, Dhanbad, Giridih, Koderma, Ramgarh, Chatra and Hazaribagh — are fully dependent on DVC for power. With the inauguration of the Chatra-Itkhori transmission line, the entire district of Chatra, along with parts of Hazaribag and Koderma, would no longer have to remain dependent on DVC as these areas would now receive power directly from Jharkhand Bijli Vitaran Nigam Ltd (JBVNL), the state-owned power distribution company,” said an official of JBVNL.

.

Noting that electricity plays an important role in any state”s development, Soren said his government is committed to laying a network of grid sub-stations and transmission lines across Jharkhand.

Asserting that his government is promoting solar power generation, he urged people to set up plants on barren lands and rooftops.

“This will not only help you generate electricity for your use, but also increase your income as the government will buy surplus power. The administration will grant subsidy for setting up such plants and a scheme will be launched soon,” he said.

The chief minister said that his government is preparing special plans for the development of backward districts such as Chatra, Garhwa and Latehar.

Observing that opium cultivation is being practised on a large scale in Chatra, he called on people to instead grow medicinal plants to increase income.

He clearly said that strict legal action will be taken against those who are involved in the cultivation of opium.

.

On the demand for a by-pass road for Chatra, the Chief Minister said that the government is serious on removing traffic bottlenecks.

“Those cities, where there is a need for bypass, its plan will be approved. Not only this, considering the future needs, bypass is being planned for cities. The bypass approval has been given for Chatra city. Its foundation will be laid in January next year,” said Soren.