Fast-track Sasan project: Ambani

R-Power waits for go-ahead from MP govt for 4,000 mw project.

The Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group-promoted Reliance Power has said it was expecting necessary clearances from the Union and state governments within 90 days for its 4,000 mw Sasan ultra mega power project (UMPP) in Madhya Pradesh.

Anil Ambani, chairman of ADAG, today asked the state government to speed up the clearance process for faster implementation.

Anil Ambani met Shivraj Singh Chouhan, state chief minister, to review the progress of three projects "" Sasan, a 20 million tonnes cement project and a technology institute in Bhopal. He had proposed a combined investment of Rs 50,000 crore for all the three projects.

About the UMPP, he said, "We hope to get all the approvals shortly and commence the basic work within 90 days."

A delay in Sasan project may put other power-related projects in trouble since Reliance Power is yet to confirm a commissioning schedule for the UMPP.

The company is waiting for the clearances from the Union ministry of environment and forest and land acquisition, allotment, rehabilitation and resettlement clearances from the Madhya Pradesh government.

About starting the work, Anil Ambani said, "We have a complete schedule of start to finish of between 50-60 months depending upon various units." He also said a 20 million tonnes per annum capacity cement plant, using fly- ash, would be commissioned in Madhya Pradesh.

"We are enthused with the current level of progress on all the three projects," he said. The state government has handed over the documents related to allocating 1,306 hectares for the cement plant in Satna district.

When asked about the hurdles with the land acquisition, he said, "R&R is an issue everywhere in India and Madhya Pradesh is no exception."

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said: "All clearance for the three projects will be in accordance with the industrial promotion policy of the state."

Sasan will supply 1,500 mw power to Madhya Pradesh as was committed by Lanco, the first bid winner of the project.