Birla's 600MW Rosa power unit gets enviro nod

Paving the way for the re-entry of the A V Birla Group in the power sector, the central government has given environmental clearance to its proposed 600 MW Rosa plant in Uttar Padesh to be built at a cost of over Rs 2,400 crore.

The union ministry of environment and forests approved the project - the first by the Kumar Mangalam Birla-led group as an independent power producer in the country - earlier this month. This would also help in achieving financial closure and beginning work on the project soon.

To be implemented by group firm Rosa Power Supply Company, the project is the second major investment by a private company in the state's power sector. Anil Ambani-controlled Reliance Energy has already received environment approval for its 7,480 MW gas-fired project at Dadri while the Tatas are also believed to be scouting for opportunities.

Interestingly, both Ambani and Kumar Birla are members of the Uttar Pradesh Development Council, which is chaired by Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh.

The 2x300 MW, coal-fired Rosa project is being set up at Chaudera in Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh at an estimated investment of Rs 2,421 crore including Rs 100 crore for environmental protection measures.

Signalling their renewed interest in the power sector, the A V Birla group has also submitted expression of interest to state-run Power Finance Corporation for a 4,000 MW ultra mega power project, sources said.