Ind-Barath to commission 350 Mw unit by Nov

Ind-Barath Energy (Utkal) Ltd (IBEUL) will start electricity production from the first 350 Mw unit of its 700 Mw power station at Sahajbahal near Jharsuguda from the second week of November.

The company had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government for setting up the coal-based power plant in February 2009.

“Our 350 Mw unit will go on stream from November. The company would be offering 84 Mw to the state grid. Presently, we have coal linkage for only the 350 Mw unit,” said Muralidhar Mishra, president of IBEUL.

IBEUL has already implemented the rehabilitation & resettlement (R&R) programme for the project. Only eight ST families had to be displaced for the power project. The company has built 22 houses at a cost of Rs 1.74 crore with 10 decimal land plot around each house.

The R&R colony has been provided with pucca roads, electricity, ponds and drinking water supply for 24 hours. IBEUL has offered a compensation of Rs 4.5 lakh to each of the ousted families.

Presently, 1,774 people are engaged in IBEUL’s project that includes 1,200 locals.

As part of its commitment towards periphery development of the project area, the company is providing allowance of Rs 1,000 per month to 25 physically challenged persons and Rs 200 every month to 168 people as old age pension.

IBEUL is also in the process of installing its 400 KV high tension transmission line which it hopes to commission after getting approval from the gram sabha.