The Centre has assured Chhattisgarh Government that it would make every effort to clear the hurdles coming in the way of coal-based 4000 mw ultra mega thermal power project planned in Chhattisgarh.
Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal has given the assurance to Chief Minister Raman Singh while replying to his letter on the matter.Singh had recently written a letter to the Power Minister describing the importance of the project planned in the Surajpur district under Surguja development block area. The last UPA Government had denied to grant forest clearance to the Pindirakhi and Putaparorgiya coal blocks allocated for the project.
In the absence of the forest clearance, the Chief Minister had urged the Power Minister to allocate an alternative captive coal block.Replying to his letter, Goyal has said that his ministry would investigate into the ways available to revive this mega project.The Union Minister said he had already issued necessary instructions to the officials of his department.Chief Minister Raman Singh in a letter sent last month had described all aspects of the project.
He wrote that the project would not only accelerate the development process, it would also help tackle the problems of left-wing extremism in Surguja area. Under the tariff based bidding plan, the Union Power Ministry in December 2005 had taken a policy decision to set up ultra mega power projects in the country.
Chhattisgarh was the first State in the country which had provided its consent for establishment of 4,000 MW power project.Union Power Ministry had appointed the Power Finance Corporation as nodal agency which was responsible for inviting bids. As per the provision, the State would have to be given 2000 mw power while the remaining 2,000 mw power was to be given to the Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa and Daman - Diu. Chhattisgarh has given top most priority to this project while taking care of the power requirement of the country. It has also already started process to complete the preliminary works such as identification of land and water for the project, officials stated.