Three Coal Blocks Cleared To Pave Way For Orissa UMPP
Author:
First published in Sanctuary Asia,
Vol. 31
No. 7,
July 2011
An additional three blocks were approved for two other power generation projects in the state, including a 1,600 mw plant by NTPC Ltd, according to a release on the website of the environment ministry signed by environment minister Jairam Ramesh.
Bids for the Orissa ultra mega power project, one of nine coal-fired plants with a capacity of 4,000 mw being built to expand access to electricity nationwide, were invited in June last year.
Deadlines for the bids were extended six times as environmental approval was awaited for mining the project's coal blocks.
Approval for the coal blocks was given after the power ministry, NTPC and Orissa Power Generation Corp proposed to reduce the forest area that would be affected by mining. Read the full report here.
Source: by Rajesh Kumar Singh & Abhijit Roy Chowdhury, DNA, New Delhi.
