The Union coal ministry and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) have proposed to set up one power plant each near Kanpur.
The coal ministry, in its proposal letter to the state government, has identified a stretch of 2,000 acres in Bilhaur division of Kanpur city district for setting up a 1,320 Mw plant under the flagship of NTPC.
The other proposal pertains to a power plant of 950 Mw capacity intended to be set up in Ghatampur near Kanpur. These two power plants with combined power generation capacity of 2,270 Mw, once operational, are expected to salvage the omnipresent power woes of central Uttar Pradesh.
The local industrialists have been lobbying for years with Kanpur MP and Union Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal for setting up power plants here. Jaiswal told Business Standard that the process was still in its incipient stage and the ball was in the state government’s court now.
“We have sent the letter of proposition to the U P government for acquiring land for the project and grant other mandatory licences and clearances,” he added. The land allotment memo has been forwarded to the state revenue and irrigation secretaries for further clearances. The local industrialists are viewing the development with guarded optimism.
Indian Industries’ Association (IIA) Kanpur chapter president, Sunil Vaishya said the proposal was marvelous but expecting anything before the state government’s consent would be unfounded.
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The NTPC team has already surveyed the 650 acres of sterile land in Ghatampur for the 950 Mw project. Land for the Bilhaur plant has been identified near the banks of the Ganges as it would readily provide the 55 cusecs of water required for the operation of the plant.
Jaiswal’s local spokesperson, Arun Dwivedi said once the projects got sanctioned, the further process for Detailed Project Report (DPR) and related processes would be undertaken.
“The completion of these two projects will be a major achievement for Jaiswal’s current tenure as it would salvage the state’s power deficit problems,” he added.
NTPC executive director (engineering), D K Jain has proposed to the state irrigation department for allowing setting up of two generators of 680 Mw each at Bilhaur, at a distance of around 45 km from Kanpur city.