With the Cabinet Committee on Investment clearing proposal to set up the North Karanpura Super Thermal Power Plant of 3 x 660 MW capacity in Jharkhand by the National Thermal Power Corporation, its Chairman is now seeing no hurdle in making the plant operational. The plant would be the first in the State by the power Maharatna which is also open to show interest in other upcoming projects in Jharkhand. NTPC’s Chairman Arup Roy Choudhury talked to The Pioneer on Friday after meeting Chief Minister Hemant Soren on various issues concerning the company. Excerpts”
What transpired in your meeting with the Chief MinisterIJ
As I had said this earlier as well that I would keep visiting the State and meeting the Chief Minister at the interval of two-three month and this meeting was on that line only. I discussed the projects that NTPC can take up in Jharkhand. Also I updated him about our new project at Tandwa. There have been cases of illegal mining at Pakri Barwadih and we expressed our concern on that as well. We assured him all the desired help on our part.
What are the major projects by the NTPC in JharkhandIJ
We have North Karanpura at Tandwa. This apart, if our help is required in any other projects like Patratu and Tenughat we are open to them. We are also looking forward to Power Engineering College at Hazaribagh. This also came for discussion and we have shown its drawings to the Chief Minister. He looked satisfied. land is being identified and the CM would lay the foundation stone for the college.
There has been problems related to water for NTPC’s Tandwa project. Has any development taken place on that frontIJ
Yes, there has been some problem related to water supply. We did two things for that. We have reduced the height of the dam to negate submergence of the surroundings. We would also operate the plant based on air cool technology. We have submitted the new plant to Water Resource Department of Jharkhand Government. We have also received proposal for upgrading Hazaribagh-Tandwa-Bijapur at the cost of Rs 500 crore. We are ready to pay for that.
What is the progress of North Karanpura projectIJ When the plant would be commissionedIJ
The project is on schedule and desired Cabinet decision has taken place. It takes about 48 months to be commissioned after being awarded. By 2018, we expect that the power plant of 1,980 MW generation capacity would become operational.
Recently the Government has invited power companies to bid for Patratu power plant. What is your take on thatIJ
Generally we do not take part in such biddings. If it becomes successful then it is good if not then we are there.
The CM had expressed concern about the conduct of PSUs in the State. What kind of assurances you gave to himIJ
NTPC is doing sufficiently in delivering its social responsibilities. At Pakri Barwadih we have provided training to at least 100 students and they have got jobs. We are also running hospitals in the area.