After construction work of a thermal power project by Ind-Barath Enegy (Utkal) limited (IBEUl) at Sahajbahal of Jharsuguda district, the unit could not be successful. With production capacity of 700 megawatt, no sincerity is seen to activate the two projects. The power project management is incapable to fulfil the conditions laid down in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government.
The company management had signed the MoU with the State Government during 2009 for setting up a thermal power project in two phases at Sahajbahal of Jharsuguda district. As per the MoU terms and conditions, in the first phase, two units with production capacity of 350 megawatt power were to be commissioned in September 2012. But the same could not be put to action for various reasons in the scheduled time.
However, the management had aimed to make the first unit operational in February 2013 and second unit in May the same year. Thereafter also, the first unit was likely to be operational in July 2015 and during October the same year, the commercial production was to commence. During December 2105, the company applied to extend the environmental clearance which was allowed in March 2016.
Although the first unit was commissioned during February 2016, immediately it stopped functioning. The second unit has not yet been made operational.
After construction of rail lines, coal was stored after transporting from lakhanpur Area of MCl by wagons. But due to lack of use, the stock of coal got damaged by fire.
The project cost in the preliminary stage was Rs 3,150 crore. But due to delayed construction, the capital engagement was increased. Initially, it was declared by the company to give direct employment to 1,450 persons and later create indirect jobs for around 2,000 persons. But, due to failure to take off, the management of the projects could not fulfil its promises. While the company was set up over 419 acre private land and around 300 Government land, the dream of improvement of the financial status of the residents is going far away.
Sources also confirmed that due to shortage of the required capital to make these units operational and other allied problems, the management is now trying to transfer the ownership of the projects to some other bodies. However, lack of sincerity on the part of the company management to make these units operational has become a matter of discussion here.