Sources in the ministry of non-conventional energy sources revealed that the sub-committee set up a couple of months ago for appraising the project afresh, comprising officials of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), NTPC, NHPC and ministry officials, had almost completed the work relating to preparation of bid documents, the RSQ (request for qualifying) and RSP (request for proposal). Bidding for the project would be held within the next month or two, sources said.

In the meantime, the ministry is pondering over the possibility of the route to be taken for executing the project. The options being examined are either on a BOOT (build, operate, own and transfer) basis, or through the IPP (independent power producer)route. Another option being considered is the joint venture route in which power goliath National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) would be roped in as one of the partners, sources said.However, no domestic company is in a position to compete for the project on account of the fact that they do not have the experience in executing such a project, they added.

Simultaneously, a team comprising members of the special sub-committee has visited the site recently in Gujarat and submitted its appraisal report to the government. According to their evaluation, it has been identified that 36 turbines of 25mw each would be required for regulating the tides in the area. In addition, it would involve construction of a 3.25km wide and 56km long barrage to regulate the water.

It may be mentioned that the Gulf of Kutch project has been identified as one of the tidal wave projects with the highest generating potential in the world on account of the difference between the high and low tide in the region which is arelatively high 8 to 11 metres.

However, no action has been taken on the project for several years. And though the government had gone in for tendering of the project some ten years back, the process was scrapped and even the special cell in the CEA set up for the project was inexplicably wound up. However, following a persistent demand by the Gujarat government for execution of tidal wave power projects on its 1,600 km long coastline, power minister Kumaramanglam had set up a committee in July this year to re-evaluate the project once again. According to MNES sources, the team which visited the site last week has enumerated the considerable advantages of executing the project.

Apart from utilising tidal power for generation of 900mw of power, the project would lead to a rise in the water level in and around the Kandla port area. "At present, the Kandla port is unable to accommodate oil tanks weighing more than 30 tonnes thereby losing out heavily on revenue generation but with the implementation of theproject, the Kandla port would be in a position to accommodate oil tanks of even 45 tonnes," said a member of the team who visited the area. He also revealed that consultations were held with high-ups of the Kandla Port Trust. Another advantage of the project would be the envisaged construction of a 56 km long bridge over the barrage which would prove a veritable bonanza for trucks ferrying crude from Kandla to the refineries in Jamnagar.

"At the moment, the trucks take the circuitous Gandhidham-Jamnagar route which apart from being heavily congested, is around 200 km long. The bridge would not only reduce the distance to a third but would also help reduce travel time and costs phenomenally," pointed out a team member.

On the environmental side, the project would not only help preserve the environment but would also come as benefit salt makers and prawn fisheries in the area. With the rising of the tide, salt makers would no longer have to pump water into their fields while prawn fisheries would get amajor fillip particularly in the Naulakhi port area, sources said.