The Mahanadi Coalfields limited (MCl), a flagship company of Coal India limited, had proposed to set up a 1,600 MW power plant with super critical technology at its Basundhara area in Sundargarh district in joint venture three years back. The MCl had inked an MoU with the State Government for the upcoming unit. But due to problem in land acquisition, the project is yet to take off.
Former Director of the State Finance Department Kulamani Biswal, after being appointed as the chairman of the new venture, said the proposed coal-based power plant would cost around Rs 9,000 crore and will have two 800MW units of super critical technology. He informed that MCl’s new venture stemmed from the accumulating coal stocks produced in Basundhara due to lack of evacuation facilities. The stock will be too high in future when the area will achieve the optimum capacity to produce 40 MT of coal per annum. Also the company has surplus funds.
As per the Central Government guidelines, the funds need to be invested. In view of the country’s energy needs, the MCl has decided to step into the power sector in addition to coal production. The power plant is likely to be operational during the 12th five year plan period, Biswal said.
According to the MoU, the MCl will have 49% share and other signing partners would be 51% share. The project is to be set up in an area of 858.60 acres of land in Gopalpur, Saradega and Tikilipara of Hemgiri block. And for the purpose, 274 families of Tikilipara and 77 families of Saradega village are to be displaced. But still the land acquisition file is pending with claim commission.
On the other hand, three different dates have been fixed for public hearing, but every time, it was deferred due to resistance of the public as their demands on employment, rehabilitation and compensation were not properly addressed. A new date for public hearing is scheduled for on November 27 next. Sources said if the MCl authority and the district administration did not settle the demands of the displaced families and villagers before the public hearing, then the dream project will again become uncertain. Already the project has been delayed by three years and to push it into further uncertainties would mean further delays and mounting of the project cost, feel experts.