Wildlife board clears 400kV energy transmission improve in Bengaluru tech hub | Bengaluru Information – The Occasions of India

BENGALURU: A latest clearance granted by State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) has paved the best way for uninterrupted high quality energy transmission to the fast-growing know-how hall in jap elements of town. The longpending approval revived a vital energy improve venture geared toward changing the practically 40-year-old 400kV transmission line that linked Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, and likewise linked jap Odisha as a part of the nationwide grid.Commissioned in Nineteen Eighties, the prevailing 400kV transmission line stretching between Somanahalli on Kanakapura Highway and Mylasandra in Electronics Metropolis lengthy served as a serious energy lifeline for jap Bengaluru. Over time, the identical line was prolonged to attach extra receiving stations at Hoodi, Narasapura and Kolar. Additional, the hall was used for transmitting energy to elements of Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh. Nonetheless, speedy urbanisation, mushrooming of mega know-how parks, multinational firms and huge residential tasks alongside east Bengaluru considerably elevated the load on the road, pushing it past its designed capability.A senior engineer from Karnataka Energy Transmission Company Ltd (KPTCL) mentioned, “The present transmission line is a vital supply for the 400kV Mylasandra substation, which handles transmission of 1,500 MW to 2,000 MW of energy every day. As a result of elevated load, the station reported low-voltage points, and guaranteeing high quality energy provide grew to become a problem. Additional, any tripping of this line attributable to overload might doubtlessly result in cascading tripping of the whole 220 kV community inside Bengaluru, severely affecting energy provide.”Whereas KPTCL initiated the venture involving the erection of 24 towers and stringing of practically 10km of transmission line, the work bumped into hurdles as two of the proposed towers have been positioned inside Bannerghatta Nationwide Park (BNP). As well as, the venture required destringing of present transmission traces passing by means of the forest, necessitating approvals from each SBWL and Nationwide Board for Wildlife (NBWL). The proposal additionally confronted robust opposition from conservationists, who expressed considerations that the brand new transmission line might pose dangers to the elephant inhabitants inside BNP.In response to those considerations, KPTCL engineers knowledgeable SBWL that no extra forest land can be sought and the peak of the towers proposed contained in the park can be elevated to minimise disturbance. “We determined to interchange the prevailing two towers on the identical areas and likewise exchange 1km of the deteriorated conductor that was put in practically 40 years in the past. We apprised the board that the peak of the conductors will likely be elevated by a further 10 metres. Apart from, we proposed lowering the fitting of method (RoW) of the hall from 52 to 46 metres, thereby minimising the environmental influence,” mentioned a KPTCL official.KPTCL additionally assured the wildlife board that, opposite to the usual floor clearance of 8 to 10 metres, the upgraded line can have a floor clearance of 15 metres, making it tough for elephants to return into contact with the conductors. “Primarily based on the revised design and mitigation measures proposed by KPTCL, we really helpful the proposal to NBWL, topic to sure circumstances,” a forest official mentioned.