Central PSU NTPC, which had proposed to invest over Rs 11,000 crore to set up a 1,600-MW power project at Gajmara in Dhenkanal district in Odisha, has decided to relocate it to Gadarwara in Madhya Pradesh due to the delay in land and environmental clearances.
"We have pulled out of the project. There was delay in land acquisition, problems of environment and forest clearance. We have shifted the Gajmara project to Gadarwara," an NTPC official is reported to have said in New Delhi.
The NTPC currently operates two thermal power plants in Odisha, Talcher Kaniha (3,000 MW) and Talcher (460 MW).
The NTPC proposes to set up the other project at Darlipalli in Sundargarh district, which is also facing problems on the equipment front. This is due to BGR Energy, one of the key suppliers, pulling out of the project as the NTPC and the State Government could not receive the necessary clearances in the stipulated time, which further delayed the manufacturing process.
The NTPC has, however, said it would go ahead with this project and would invite fresh tender for sourcing equipments. There would be a fresh round of bids for securing equipments for the Darlipalli plant, the official said.