Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Provide Funds From Clean Environment Cess To Odisha For Setting Up Pump ... on 7 August, 2018
Sixteenth Loksabha an> Title: Need to provide funds from Clean Environment Cess to Odisha for setting up pump storage hydro power plants -laid.
SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB (CUTTACK): The Union Government has been collecting a Central Cess viz. ‘Clean Environment Cess’ on coal towards National Clean Energy Fund meant for research and development activities in the field of Clean Energy Technology. The Union Government had revised this cess from Rs. 200 per MT to Rs. 400 per MT in the Union Budget 2016-17. Consequently, the contribution of the State of Odisha to the said Fund has come to Rs. 6400 crore during the Financial Year 2016-17. The said Fund is getting enriched from the major coal producing States but such States are not getting adequate assistance from it. Rather, its benefits have largely gone to other States so far. Accordingly to the prevalent policy, this fund can be used for Hydro Power Plants upto 25 MW capacity only. Odisha being a major contributor to this Fund, the Government of Odisha may be allowed to avail assistance from this Fund for establishing its three pump storage hydro power plants with total capacity of 1320 MW at Upper Indravati, Balimela and Upper Kolab. I, therefore, urge upon the Government to consider pump storage hydro power as renewable energy and provide a sum of Rs. 3950 Crore from the said Fund to the Government of Odisha for establishing its pump storage hydro power plants at the earliest.