POWER PLANT, ‘Prioritise socio-economic survey’

Express News Service , 08 Nov 2008

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy today directed the companies who have signed memoranda of understanding (MoU) with the State Government to set up mega power plants in Orissa to make a socio-economic survey around the location of their projects. The Chief Secretary reviewed the progress of seven mega power plant projects. ‘‘The companies should involve themselves in social activities including organising eye and health camps. The requirements of local people should be assessed and training should be imparted,’’ he said. Some of the companies maintained that the projects have been delayed because of opposition to land acquisition and water problem. Besides, several companies are yet to get coal blocks. The Chief Secretary directed the engineer-in-chief of the Water Resources Department to solve the water problems of the mega power plants. While some of the proposed plants would draw water from Mahanadi river, others will meet their demand from the Bramhani river. Besides opposition to land acquisition, delay in conversion of forest land also came as a major hurdle, they said. Tripathy directed the Collector, Angul, who attended the meeting, to solve problems relating to land acquisition faced by the companies. The Mahanadi Aban Power Company Limited will set up 1,030 MW plant at Talcher in Angul district. The land requirement for the project is 1,035 acres. The location of the plant to be set up by GMR Limited will be at Kamalanga in Dhenkanal district. The land requirement of the plant is 1,100 acres which includes 78 acres forest land. The Jindal India Thermal Power Limited will set up its 1,200 MW plant at Jerang in Angul district on 1,100 acres of land. The first and second units of the plant will be completed by December, 2011 and March, 2012 respectively. The 2,000 MW plant of Tata Power Company Limited will be located at Marthapur near Naraj in Cuttack district on 990 acres. The Essar Power Limited has proposed to set up its 1,000 MW plant on 1,070 acres of land at Karang in Angul district. The plant is expected to start production in March, 2012. The CESC Limited will establish its 1,000 MW plant on 1,094 acres of land at Neulapur in Dhenkanal district. The first unit of the plant will be competed by March, 2013 while the second unit be completed in September, 2013. The KVK Nilachal Power Limited will set up its 1,200 MW plant at Kandarei near Athgarh in Cuttack district. The project will be over by March, 2011.