BEFORE HON’BLE CENTRAL ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION,

AT NEW DELHI
PETITION NO. 10 / SM / 2017

IN THE MATTER OF:-

Central Electricity Regulatory Commission ………. PETITIONER

Versus
Teestavalley Power Transmission Limited ………... RESPONDENTS

IN THE MATTER OF:

SUBMISSION OF RESPONDENT, M/S TEESTAVALLEY POWER
TRANSMISSION LTD. WITH REGARD TO STATUS UPDATE OF 400KV
TEESTA III-KISHANGANJ TRANSMISSION LINE
INDEX
S.N. PARTICULARS PAGE NOs
1. Submission of Respondent M/s Teestavalley
Power Transmission Ltd. in pursuance of the
directions of Hon’ble Commission in the hearing
dated 06.09.2018
2. Annexure-I: Agenda & Minutes of Meeting
(PRAGATI) dated 25.04.2018
3. Annexure-II: Correspondence with Forest
Deptt. Of West Bengal
4. Annexure-III: Correspondence with District
Administration for clearing location at Bijanbari
5. Annexure-IV: Correspondence with District
Administration for clearing ROW issues at
Naxalbari
6. Affidavit

Date: ____ September 2018

Place: New Delhi Respondent
Through

Counsel

TARUN JOHRI
712-A, Wave silver Tower,
Sector-18, Noida 201301
 BEFORE HON’BLE CENTRAL ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION,
AT NEW DELHI
PETITION NO. 10 / SM / 2017

IN THE MATTER OF:-

Central Electricity Regulatory Commission ……….PETITIONER

Versus
Teestavalley Power Transmission Limited ………... RESPONDENTS

IN THE MATTER OF:

SUBMISSION OF RESPONDENT, M/S TEESTAVALLEY POWER

TRANSMISSION LTD. WITH REGARD TO STATUS UPDATE OF 400KV
TEESTA III-KISHANGANJ TRANSMISSION LINE

MOST RESPECTFULLY SHOWETH:

1. Background and Status of 400kV Teesta III-Kishanganj Transmission Line

Hon’ble Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (this Hon’ble Commission) vide

the Record of Proceedings dated 19.01.2018 directed Teesta Valley Transmission Ltd.
(TPTL) to submit the progress report of implementation of 400kV Teesta III-
Kishanganj Transmission Line and an action plan to complete the same. In response to
the aforesaid directions of this Hon’ble Commission, TPTL vide affidavit dated
30.01.2018, submitted that the 400kV Teesta III-Kishanganj Transmission Line was
expected to be completed by 30.03.2018.

Subsequent to the above, in the hearing held before this Hon’ble Commission on
06.09.2018, it was apprised by TPTL that due to certain factors beyond its control, the
Transmission Line would get completed only by October 2018. Hon’ble Commission
directed TPTL to submit the updated status along with relevant supporting
document/correspondences.

In pursuance of the above directions of the Hon’ble Commission, the status of

Transmission Line being constructed by TPTL is being submitted herein below:

Status as on 30th August, 2018

States
Foundation (no) Erection (no) Stringing (km)
Compl Balanc Compl Comple Balan
Total Total Balance Total
eted e eted ted ce
 Status as on 30th August, 2018
States
Foundation (no) Erection (no) Stringing (km)

Sikkim 163 163 Nil 163 163 Nil 57.3 57.3 Nil

West
227 220 7 227 214 13 84.2 61.18 23.02
Bengal

Bihar 200 200 Nil 200 200 Nil 72 72 Nil

Total 590 583 7 590 577 13 213.5 190.48 23.02

It may be observed from the above, that the construction works in the States of Sikkim
and Bihar have been completed. However, construction of a small portion of
Transmission Line falling in the State of West Bengal is yet to be completed.

In the PRAGATI meeting taken by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 25.04.2018, it was
informed by TPTL that ROW issue for six (6) tower locations in Darjeeling District were
pending for resolution, out of which five (5) tower locations are falling in Goke &
Manjha Forest and one (1) tower location is in private land. It was directed in the
meeting that the proposal for minor deviation of five (5) tower locations in Goke &
Manjha Forest was to be submitted by TPTL and approval for the same would be
accorded by the Forest Department at the earliest. Also one (1) tower at Lakpatar,
Bijanbari block issue was sought to be sorted out by District Administration. The
Hon’ble Prime Minister also directed all concerned to resolve the issues so that the
transmission line is completed by September 2018. The relevant extracts of the Minutes
of the Meeting held on 25.04.2018 are as below:

 “Government of West Bengal should submit the proposal for forest

clearance by 15.05.2018.
 Government of Sikkim should remove the structures/encroachments by
31.05.2018.
 Ministry of Power and State Governments should work in coordination to
ensure completion of the project by September, 2018.”

TPTL has been putting its best efforts to achieve the commissioning target of the
Transmission Line. However, few issues in Darjeeling District, as described below, are
still under ROW and are likely to get resolved shortly.

1. Five (5) tower location in Goke & Manjha Forest

Foundation at 5 nos. location could not be taken up due to minor deviation in
Goke Forest & Manjha Forest. The revised proposal for minor deviation was
submitted to respective DFOs on 30.04.2018 and was forwarded to Additional
PCCF, Forest Deptt., Govt. of West Bengal, Kolkata on 03.05.2018 & 22.06.2018
 by DFOs of GTA and Kurseong Divisions respectively. The proposal was then
forwarded by the Additional PCCF, Govt. of West Bengal, Kolkata to Conservator
of Forest (Central), the Ministry of Environment & Forest, Govt. of India, Eastern
Regional Office, and Bhubaneswar on 03.07.18. The approval for the revised
forest proposal was conveyed to the Principal Secretary, Forest Deptt., Govt. of
West Bengal by the Ministry of Environment & Forest, Govt. of India on
28.08.2018. Forest Dept., Govt. of West Bengal has granted its approval on
31.08.2018 and the same has been received by TPTL on 2nd September, 2018.

2. One (1) tower location no. 190 at Bijanbari Block

Foundation works at tower location no. 190 falling in Lakpatara Village under
Pulbazar Police Station in Bijanbari Block of Darjeeling District could not be taken
up due to hindrance created by the land owner. The land owner was not
permitting TPTL to carry out construction works and was not accepting the
compensation for crops as assessed by District Administration. TPTL had
approached Block/ District Administration several times for intervention and had
also lodged a complaint vide letter dated 30.04.2018, in the Pulbazar Police
Station intimating the same. TPTL is in continuous touch with District
Administration and the location is expected to be cleared shortly.

3. ROW affecting stringing works (5.5 km) in Naxalbari Block.

All foundations and tower erections are complete in the stretch of 5.5 km in
Naxalbari Block. Locals have not been allowing the stringing work demanding
high compensation. TPTL has sought the intervention of District Administration
and the ROW issue is expected to get resolved soon.

It is submitted that the construction of Transmission Line is nearing completion and it is

expected to get completed/commissioned by 31st October, 2018. Copies for
correspondences detailing the aforesaid events/activities are enclosed as Annexure-I,
II, III & IV.

Date: ____ September 2018

Place: New Delhi Respondent
Through

Counsel

TARUN JOHRI
712-A, Wave silver Tower,
Sector-18, Noida 201301