India-Lanka undersea power project on course

INDIA: The Sri Lankan and Indian Governments are going ahead with the implementation of the Rs. 1,000-crore under sea transmission link project between the two countries.

As reported by Financial Express on April 13, both Governments have given top priority to this project and are expected to sign an MoU soon, which will pave for an appointment of an agency to carry out a comprehensive under sea/marine survey.

The proposed survey is likely to be completed in six months and thereafter, a detail project report will be prepared.

The proposed under sea/marine survey is necessary, prior to the laying of the undersea/submarine cables.

The cable survey will look into the traffic of movements of ships in the area, depth of sea, earthquake zones and volcanic activities as well as the presence of sharks in that area of sea.

The link is likely to connect Madurai in Tamil Nadu and Anuradhapura.

The transmission line is expected to be 400 KV HVDC overhead lines from Madurai to the Indian coast (near Rameshwaram (139 km), a 400 KV HVDC cable from the Indian sea coast to the Sri Lankan sea coast (39 km), a 400 KV HVDC overhead line from the Sri Lankan coast to Anuradhapura/Puttalam (125km).

PowerGrid Corporation, which is India's central transmission utility, will be the project implementation agency.

PowerGrid Corporation, which is India's central transmission utility, will be the project implementation agency.

PowerGrid Corporation sources said on Monday that both Governments will decide on sharing expenditure even on carrying out under sea survey and thereafter for the entire project. "Initially, it was discussed to share the cost of the undersea/marine survey equally. However, after signing the MoU, the actual sharing pattern will be finalised. The sharing of the project cost will also be decided," sources said.

Financial Express, India