NTPC 'advised' to shift location of proposed power plant in AP

A committee under the Ministry of Environment and Forests has recommended state-owned NTPC Limited to consider shifting the location of its proposed 4,000 Mw power plant from the current site at Vishakhapatnam as the area is "ecologically sensitive".

According to the minutes of the meeting of Experts Appraisal Committee under the ministry, the region where the 4x1,000 Mw Pudimadaka super thermal power project in Andhra Pradesh is proposed, is a "tsunami prone area".

When contacted, an NTPC official said they prepared and resubmitted a revised layout for the Pudimadaka project to the MoEF on January 9 for issuing ToR (terms of reference) for consideration, which is expected to be taken up during the meeting of the EAC (Thermal) on January 29.

"The committee after detailed deliberations opined that the proposed site is not environmentally and ecologically suitable as there are a large number of water bodies in the proposed site and (they) are inter-linked. Further, the creek is only about 100 metres away; the region falls in high flood zone/tsunami-prone area, and has high rainfall besides being close to salt pans.

"Due to complex hydrological system, this area is ecologically sensitive. Hence, the proposed site in the present form cannot be recommended. The PP may relocate/shift the site away from the ecologically sensitive area in consultation with the state government," the committee said.

The NTPC official said the EAC made observations after reviewing ToR of the project on December 22 and 23.

"The following actions including spects of high rainfall, high wind speeds have been taken for compliance of the observations of MoEF and during design of plant.

"Accordingly, NTPC prepared and resubmitted a revised layout to MoEF on January 9, 2015, for issuing ToR for consideration, which is expected to be taken up during the meeting of the EAC (Thermal) on January 29," the official told PTI.

AP has allotted 1,200 acres of land on a lease basis for 33 years to NTPC for setting up the 4,000 Mw power project in Visakhapatnam with an investment outlay of Rs 20,000 crore.

According to an earlier order issued by the government, NTPC had committed to complete the project before March, 2019 and once completed, it would be the biggest single location power project in the state.

If the project is running successfully at the end of the lease period, it can be extended further on mutual terms.

The lease conditions as well as rental will be as fixed by APIIC as per their policy, the government order had said.