Chandigarh, April 18
Haryana is betting high on nuclear power. Determined to become self-sufficient in power, the state is now vying with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) to set up a second nuclear power plant at either Bhiwani or Hisar.

Officials in the Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited (HPGCL) today said they had already indicated two sites (Kitlana in Bhiwani and Balsamand in Hisar) to the NPCIL, for setting up a nuclear power plant. “A survey was conducted recently, and after getting the satellite imagery done, we have proposed two sites to the NPCIL for setting up a second nuclear power plant in the state,” said HPGCL managing director Sanjeev Kaushal.

When approved, this will be the second nuclear power plant to be set up in the state, other than the 2800 MW nuclear power plant at Fatehabad.

Talking to The Tribune, Kaushal said the Central Electricity Authority had got a study conducted for identification of sites where new thermal power plants could be constructed in Haryana. “Based on this study, we had made a proposal to the chairman of the NPCIL, for a second nuclear power plant at the above mentioned places,” he said, adding that the identified sites met all criteria for the setting up of a nuclear power plant, including availability of water, less habitation, nearness to rail head, and were not falling in the identified seismic zone.

Haryana already has the required approvals to set up four units in a nuclear power plant (700 mega watts each) at Gorakhpur in Fatehabad district. With the land acquisition on for this plant, the state is hoping that this nuclear power plant will be commissioned by 2017. “The pre project activity for this nuclear power plant (conducting all tests and getting all clearances) will be done by March 2013. The construction and commissioning will take four years, and by 2017, we hope to generate 2800 MW of power from this plant,” he said. The sanction for this nuclear plant was granted in 1984, but the process for acquisition of 1503.4 acres of land in Gorakhpur and Kajadhedi villages in Fatehabad. The state has a power generation capacity of 3230.5 MW, through its own resources. For the rest of its power requirements, it relies on bilateral power arrangements and also gets power through its equity stake in power projects outside the state.