Uncertainty looms large over two major power projects in Bengal

Setting up of two major power projects in West Bengal has become uncertain due to unavailability of land. The two projects are National Thermal Power Corporation’s thermal power station at Katwa in Burdwan district and engineering major Larsen & Toubro (L&T)’s thermal power project at West Midnapore.

According to sources in the state power department, the L&T had evinced interest to set up 2x800 MW power plants at an investment of approximate Rs 11,000 crore. Around 1200 acres is required at a single location for setting up the power station.

NTPC had shown interest to set up a power plant with a capacity of around 1,600 MW in the state. The NTPC needs at least 1,100 acre for the proposed project.

The West Bengal Power Development Corporation which had initially undertaken the project and had later handed over to NTPC for failing to organise adequate funds had acquired 559 acre in Katwa. But NTPC sources said they need additional 500 acres to set up the unit.

The Mamata Banerjee government has announced that it would not acquire land for any industry. For setting up industry in the state, the industry itself would have to negotiate with the landowners and purchase the land directly from them, the official said.

At present, state government has two large plots at two locations in West Midnapore district. One of them, covering approximately 700 acres and another around 500 acres are situated near Lodhasuli in West Midnapore. The government had offered the land to L&T authorities for setting up the power plan. The two sites are known to be Maoist prone spots and the distance between the two stands more than 30 Km. The power department authorities said that they are yet to know whether the L&T authorities are keen to accept the offer because they are situated in Maoist prone area.

The sources said that earlier, these two locations were also shown to the JSW Group for their proposed thermal power plant and the JSW Group had also selected the locations for their project.

But finally they had to shift the location after the Indian Air Force (IAF) authorities had raised objection as both the locations are close to Kalaikunda air base. The Indian Air Force authorities said that erecting chimney beyond a certain height is prohibited near an airbase. Finally they did not give the permission to JSW to set up the plant in Lodhasuli.

"It is believed that the L&T would not get the permission from the Indian Air Force on the same ground", the sources added.

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Uncertainty looms large over two major power projects in Bengal

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