Three Ultra Mega Power projects in pipeline in State

The Pioneer, May 26, 2012
The State Government has initiated a process for installation of three Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPPs) in collaboration with the Union Government. A high-level meeting in this regard was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary BK Patnaik here on Friday.

The site for one UMPP has been finalised at Bedabahal in Sundargarh district. Earlier, it was decided to have a UMPP at inland site and another in the coastal belt. It was proposed that the inland site should preferably be proximate to railway line and Ghogarpalli coal block.

In pursuance of the earlier in-principle decisions regarding the location of the other two UMPPs, a team of officers and technical experts consisting of representatives from the Central Power Authority, Power Finance Corporation of India, Idco and Ipicol led by PFCL Project-in-Charge PP Srivastav visited different sites in Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Balangir and Kalahandi districts. More particularly, places in the Dhamra, Motto, Mahakalada, Marhsaghai, Titilagarh, Narla and Kesinga areas were visited by the team.

Earlier, a similar team had also visited different places in Baleswar, Jagatsingpur, Ganjam and Puri districts. The team presented the preliminary topographical data collected from the field. The Chief Secretary has advised the team to identify locations which will require least displacement of people. The Government has decided to create reservoirs and barrages to raise the water level in rivers.

Sources said each project will have a 4,000-MW-capacity plant and all the three projects will involve an investment of around Rs 60,000 crore at the rate of Rs 5 crore per MW. The State will have 50 per cent power from both these additional units and 1m300 MW from the unit at Bedabahal. Around 2,500 acres of land will be required for each project.

The State will get power at lesser tariff from these projects. The plants will use the latest technology to minimise pollution and make minimum use of water. The projects will be implemented through Special Purpose Vehicles. The water for the plants located along the coastal line could be drawn from sea through a pipeline corridor. The water after treatment and cooling will also be taken back to sea through the same corridor.