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Journalism of Courage
A thermal plant to be set up by NTPC,country’s largest power producer,in Orissa has hit a roadblock following Environment and Forest Ministry’s refusal to give green clearance,citing many “loose ends” in the project proposal.
The 2×800 MW Coal Based Super Thermal Power Plant proposed to be developed NTPC at village Gajmara,in Dhenkanal district of Orissa has been facing opposition from locals with regard to land acquisition also.
A Committee under MoEF,had noted that the project entails acquisition of forests and grazing land and observed that there are several forests in the study area.
It therefore,decided that even though the terms of reference prescribed for the project had not specified the requirement for preparation and implementation of a wildlife conservation plan,NTPC shall duly formulate the same in consultation with the wildlife department officials at the earliest.
The Committee had,therefore,advised the PSU that not only an equivalent area of grazing land shall be acquired and developed but also grazing land in the study area shall also be upgraded.
“The proposal was earlier taken up in the 36th meeting of the Committee held during November 14-15 last year,wherein it observed that the proposal in its present form had many loose ends. In view of the observations as noted above,the
Committee decided that the proposal is premature for consideration of grant of environmental clearance and accordingly deferred the proposal for reconsideration at a later stage,” the Committee said in the MoEF website.
When contacted a NTPC official said they informed the Ministry to withhold its application for environmental clearance as the coal allotted to the plant has been diverted to some other plant as the land acquisition itself is not
completed.
“The project proponent,however,informed the Ministry and the Committee that for the time being they are withholding the application for consideration for environmental clearance as the coal earlier proposed to be used for this power project was required to be diverted for some other project.
Accordingly the proposal was dropped for consideration at a later date,” MoEF said.
The Orissa government earlier asked NTPC to acquire land after receiving the consent of owners for its two power projects. The power producer is also developing another power project at Darlipali in Sundergarh district.
The state government asked the district collectors of Sundergarh and Dhenkanal districts to assist NTPC which would require about 2,900 and 2,700 acres respectively for establishment of the power plants.
Though the PSU was ready to start work on the projects,it is facing opposition from the locals who have demanded 40 lakh per acre of private land. The Committee under MoEF recommended conditional clearance for Darlipali Supercritical
Coal Based Thermal Power Plant.
