With the Water Resources Department clarifying its position over supplying water from Chir River to Adani Power’s plant proposed at Paraspani in Godda district and some other issues resolved, the Adani Power (Jharkhand) limited is ready to stroll ahead. The company, it is learnt, has applied for the second stage MoU with the State Government very recently.
Highly placed sources in the power major told The Pioneer that the company is looking forward to set up 1600 MW power plant and host of meetings with top officials in the Industry Department has also taken place in this regard.
“The water supply issue has already been resolved as it was clear from the beginning that the State Government would make sure 36 MCM (million cubic meter) from the river. Now, we have tendered application for the Stage-II agreement with the Energy Department and are waiting for their call,” said an official of the power major on Thursday.
This project aimed to fulfill a treaty between India and Bangladesh signed in January 2010 came for discussion at the Environment Ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of Thermal Power and Coal Mining Projects. The panel had deferred its node seeking detailed information from State’s Water Resources Department about the river and the water-use that has now been fulfilled.
The thermal power project proposed in Godda is slated to generate 1600 MW of electricity to supply it to Bangladesh. However, as per the Energy Policy of Jharkhand Government, the company signed an MoU on February 17, 2016 ensuring supply of 25 per cent of the power, ie 400 MW, generated to the State from an alternate source.
The company official also snubbed reports coming about putting conditions before moving ahead. “There is no question of deviating from the Energy Policy laid out by the Government. We have not sought for any change or altering, not even a full stop or comma. I don’t know how people interpret wrongly. The company is committed to the proposed power plant,” said he.
The policy says that IPPs that have entered into MoU for setting up thermal power generating plant in the State and supply of power to the State under first right of refusal limited to 25 per cent of the installed capacity at price to be decided by Jharkhand State Regulatory Commission (JSERC). Ratio of the energy supplied at fixed and variable rates has also been determined and applicable to one and all.
Confirming the development, Industry Director K Ravi Kumar said that the officials of Adani Power had met him recently. “They expressed surprise over the reports about altering the conditions set in the policy. It is all rumors. The company is eager for future course of action,” said he.
The agreement says that second stage MoU will be signed which will include complete details of the project, including DPR with the site selected availability of land, water, power, environmental clearances, time-frame for implementation etc. DPR with these details have to be submitted by the company within 12 months from the date of signing the MoU.
Earlier also, controversy had shrouded the project over rate of land to be acquired in Godda. later, the Government formed a panel and designated Divisional Commissioner to fix reasonable circle rate at the area for the land owners.