Country's larger power producer NTPC may lose its proposed 1,600 MW thermal power plant at Gajmara in Odisha to a private firm as the state-run company was unable to get necessary clearances within the stipulated time and acquire land for the project, sources said.
"Yes, they (NTPC) may have to lose the project, they were not able to complete the Section 4 or land acquisition process in the stipulated time," said a source.
He, however, did not confirm the name of the private company.
NTPC Chairman and Managing Director Arup Roy Choudhury could not be reached for comments despite repeated attempts.
The company currently operates two thermal power plants Talcher Kaniha (3,000 MW) and Talcher (460 MW) in the state.
The company officials had met the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik last week to discuss issues delaying the commencement of the project. NTPC was expected to invest Rs 11,400 crore on the 1,600 MW project.
Meanwhile, NTPC would also kick-start another thermal power project at Darlipalli in the state next month. The construction work at Darlipali shall commence as soon as the state government gives an assurance that the land acquisition shall be completed by December 10, 2012.
The project which would be situated at the Sundargarh District of the state Darlipali project shall get coal from Dulanga Mine and water from Hirakud Reservoir.
The equipment for the plant has been placed with BHEL and BGR-Hitachi. The forest clearance for the Dulanga mine is also expected shortly.
The total power generation capacity of the company is close to 40,000 MW and if the Gajmara project is taken back from the company, achieving the 75,000 MW installed capacity target by 2017 would become an uphill task.
NTPC has already brought down the 75,000 MW intstalled capacity target by 2017 to about 65,000 MW keeping in consideration coal and gas shortage.