The High Level Task Force on Power (HLTFP) headed by the chief secretary today recommended three proposals for setting up of power projects in the state.
It also gave its nod to the request of Sahara India Power Corporation, which plans to set up a 1320 Mw thermal power plant in the state, for change of the site.
The fresh projects which were recommended to the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) are 64 Mw proposed by Navbharat Ventures Ltd, 60 Mw power plant by Maa Durga Thermal Company and a 1000 Mw project of Adhunik Power and Natural Resources Ltd.
Briefing the media after the meeting, the state energy secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena said, the task force approved the Rs 3900 crore investment proposal of Adhunik Power and Natural Resources to set up a 1000 Mw power plant at Birmaharajpur in Sonepur district. This project will have the status of an IPP (Independent Power Producer)
The approval of the 64 Mw (Rs 254 crore) expansion project of Navbharat Ventures at Dhenkanal comes with the condition that the company has to provide the entire power from this unit to the state for a period of three years till 2012-13.
Similarly, Maa Durga Thermal Power Company proposed to expand the capacity of its project by 60 Mw at Tangi with an investment of Rs 298 crore. It may be noted the company had earlier applied for a 60 Mw power plant. The taks force today decided that the company’s request to expand capacity will be considered after the completion of the first unit. It, however, recommended the first unit of 60 Mw along with water allotment for it from river Birupa to the SLSWCA.
On the other hand, the request of Sahara India Power Ltd for a change in the site for its proposed 1320 Mw power plant received the nod of the task force. Though the company intended to set up the unit at Tasra in Sundergarh district, it sought change in site to Ghantabahal in Titlagarh sub-division in Bolangir district.
The task force which considered 13 proposals deferred its decision on nine other projects. These included Rs 13,750 crore investment proposal of Adani Mining Ltd for a 2500 Mw reject coal based power plant, 1320 Mw power plant proposal of Madhucon Projects, 180 Mw power plant by Action Ispat, 2660 Mw power plant by Sterlite Energy at Chipilima, 660 Mw expanded capacity of Ind-Bharath Energy (Utkal) Limited and 2000 Mw power plant by Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLCL).
The remaining proposals would be considered by the task force after the environment carrying capacity study taken up by the Orissa State Pollution Control Board is completed and the detailed study of the availability of water is done by the government, sources said.
