Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider allocating the Baitarani East Coal Block in favour of State PSU OTPCl power project being set up in Dhenkanal district.
He has also requested Modi to allot Karadabahal and Brahmanibil Coal Blocks, which are also located nearby and having adequate reserves to the OTPCl unit.
Notably, the OTPCl is establishing a 3200 MW (4 X 800 MW) coal based super critical thermal power plant near Kamakhyanagar for which the land acquisition has been completed and all statutory clearances have been obtained except the environment clearance. The project has been allocated with Tentuloi Coal Block. However, considering the fact that the cost of extracting coal from this deep cast mine will be prohibitively high, the Ministry of Coal, Government of India has been requested several times for cancellation of the block. The Chief Minister had earlier had urged the Union Minister of Coal to allot the Chhendipada and Chhendipada-II Coal Block in lieu of Tentuloi Coal Block to the OTPCl but no coal block has been allocated so far.
In a letter to Prime Minister Modi, Patnaik said that Baitarani East Coal Mine having a tentative reserve of about 600 MT of coal has been allocated to MCl, but geographically it is situated far away from the command area of operation of MCl. It will be easier on the part of the State PSU to develop this coal mine as it is bordering another coal mine i.e. Baitarani West Coal mine recently allocated to the State Government.
Patnaik said the project will be largely helpful in catering to the growing need for power. Besides it would also lead to providing power at cheaper rate.