At a time when West Bengal is battling to improve its investor-friendly image, a Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) letter to shift the Rs 10,000 crore second phase of Raghunathpur thermal power plant from Purulia, comes as another major blow to the Trinamool government.
"We have written to the Purulia district magistrate stating all facts about delay in project implementation and said if necessary action was not taken by the state administration, the company would be left with no option other than shifting the Rs 10,000 crore second phase of the project from Raghunathpur," DVC chief engineer and project head Debasish Mitra told PTI.
He said chairman R N Sen is meeting with the Union Power Ministry today on this project in Delhi and after he returns, a copy will be sent to the state chief secretary.
The state administration is cold in acting on at least ten Firs filed by us, Mitra said, adding the second phase of the 1320 MW (660MW X 2) project cannot commence unless we complete the ash pond, but we are unable to work due to ongoing local problems.
Secondly, DVC could not progress with the 10 km water corridor pipeline for the plant for same reason. Work for the pipeline is stopped since October 21 and for the ash pond since June, he said.
"Unless a magistrate is posted there, project work could not be completed," Mitra said.
He said, the troubles refused to end even after Sen's meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on October 1 and a meeting with local residents at the District Magistrate's office on October 9.
Residents continue to block work of both the pipeline and the ash pond. Raghunathpur phase one consisting of 600 MW X 2 units (1200 MW) is awaiting synchronisation.
DVC officials believe the only solution to the ongoing imbroglio is the Chief Minister herself giving direct instructions to the administration on the matter.
