National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), the country's largest power producer, expects to complete land acquisition for its two mega power projects in Orissa- 4800 MW plant at Darlipalli in Sundergarh district and 3200 MW plant at Gajmara in Dhenkanal district- within next six months.
The navratna power utility, which has an installed capacity of 3460 MW in Orissa, will pump over Rs 50,000 crore in generating additional capacity of 9320 MW in the state by the end of 2017.
Besides setting up two mega power projects at Darlipalli and Gajamara, NTPC is also scaling up the capacity of its existing thermal power station at Talcher by adding 1320 MW (2x660 MW) through two supercritical units.
Addressing media persons here, I B Pandey, regional executive director (Northern Region and Eastern Region-II) of NTPC said, “We are confident of acquiring land for our proposed power projects at Darlipalli and Gajamara within six months. The gram sabha for the Gajamara project has been held earlier this month.”
Asked on Orissa's share from these power projects, Pandey said, “The allocation is yet to be decided but usually the home state gets 30-32 per cent as per the existing guidelines. However, the Union ministry of power is considering a proposal wherein 50 per cent of the power generated may be allocated to the home state.”
The 4800 MW power plant, coming up on 3000 acres of land at Darlipalli, will be commissioned in three phases. In each phase, 1600 MW (2x800) will be commissioned and all the three phases are scheduled to go on stream by the end of the 12th Plan period (2016-17).
NTPC has obtained water clearance from the Orissa government for this project and deposited establishment charges for land acquisition.It has also conducted various studies like Environmental Impact Study (EIA), socio-economic study, topographical study, hydrographic study and seismic study.
For the Gajamara project, the power major has obtained clearance for acquisition of 2900 acres and water use.
For the 1320 MW expansion of its Talcher Thermal Power Station (TTPS), NTPC has received water clearance from the state government with revised conditions of power supply. Apart from 50 per cent direct allocation, Orissa would get 10 per cent of unallocated share from the Central sector.
NTPC, which is grappling with inadequate coal supplies which has impacted its power generation, has targeted to import 12 million tonnes of coal during this fiscal to tide over the domestic coal crisis.
Pandey admitted that the 3000 MW NTPC Kaniha lost generation of 1000 million units in 2009-10 due to disruption in coal supply.He said, NTPC achieved a 100 per cent bill realization at Rs 2032.73 crore in the Eastern Region-II for 2009-10.
