Cabinet clears NTPC power project in Jharkhand

New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) The Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI) Wednesday approved the setting up of the 1,980 MW North Karanpura Super Thermal Power Plant in Jharkhand by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).

A power ministry statement here said the CCI also agreed to restore the original coal linkage for the project, that has been cleared for setting up “in the vicinity of Tandwa town, district Chatra in Jharkhand.”

The coal supply for project would be made available in the 13th Five Year Plan (2017-2021), it said.

The coal ministry had withdrawn the coal linkage for NTPC’s Rs.14,000 crore project in 2008 and wanted its relocation to another site in the district, which, it said, had 6 billion tonnes of coal reserves. However, the power ministry opposed relocation.

A Group of Ministers (GoM) had earlier suggested implementing the project at the same location for 35 years.

The power ministry had proposed restoration of the original coal linkage for the project at the present site, while NTPC would provide an undertaking that the plant would only run for 35 years as recommended by the B. K. Chaturvedi committee.

The first project to be set up by NTPC in Jharkhand will be on a pit-head with environment friendly super-critical technology.

IANS 2013-02-20 22:12:04