As many as 18 out of 30 Independent Power Producers (IPPs) who have inked Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government have conducted Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for their power projects in the state.
The IPPs that have conducted the EIAs are Mahanadi Aban Power Company Ltd, GMR Kamalanga Energy Ltd, Sterlite Energy Ltd, CESC Ltd, Tata Power Company Ltd, KVK Nilachal Power Ltd, Monnet Ispat Ltd, Essar Power Ltd, Bhusan Energy Ltd, Visa Power Ltd, Lanco Babandh Power Ltd, Navbharat Power Ltd, Ind-Barath Energy (Utkal) Ltd, Aarti Steel Ltd and Jindal Steel & Power Ltd to name a few.
"All the power generating companies, who have signed MoUs with the state government, have assessed the environmental impact or are in the process of preparing an EIA. The possible impact on environment due to a plant is evaluated by a panel of experts in the Ministry of environment and forests, Government of India while granting environmental clearance. So far, 18 power plants have conducted EIA”, minister for energy, Atanu Sabysachi Nayak said in a written response in the state legislative assembly.
"Besides this, since a large number of industries including power plants are proposed in the Angul-Talcher and Ib Valley-Jharsuguda area, the State Pollution Control Board is preparing the Regional Environment Management Plans (REMP) for both the areas. The REMP for Angul-Talcher area has been prepared by the Indian School of Mines University-Dhanbad and it is under the consideration of the government. The REMP for Ib Valley-Jharsuguda is under final stages of preparation by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)-Nagpur”, he added.
The IPPs have invested Rs 12375.09 crore on their proposed projects in the state by the end of December 2010.
