Raman revives Sarguja power project in Chhattisgarh

Ministry of power reportedly shelved plan to set up Rs 20,000-crore ultra mega power project

The otherwise “dead” ultra mega power project in Chhattisgarh’s Sarguja region is likely to get a new lease of life with Chief Minister Raman Singh urging Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take the necessary initiatives.

The 4000-Mw project proposed by the ministry of power for the state had landed in the troubled water following the coal blocks allotted for the plant falling under the no-go area declared by the ministry of environment. The ministry of power reportedly shelved the plan to set up Rs 20,000-crore ultra mega power project.

The project was earlier proposed in Akaltara of Janjgir-Champa district. But on the initiative of the Chhattisgarh government, it was shifted to the tribal-predominated pocket of Sarguja. The project was supposed to come up near Khamaria village under the Udaipur development block of Sarguja.

The coal ministry had allocated block in Hasdeo-Arand coalfields for feeding the raw material for the plant. Unfortunately, the ministry of environment and forests had classified the Hasdeo—Arand coal blocks as no-go that meant that mining cannot take place in those mines as it would cause damage to the environment.

The process for the invitation of initial bids for the Surguja UMPP has been delayed a number of times due to lack of environment clearance for the allotted coal mines.

As per the guidelines of power sector regulator Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, the exploration work at the coal blocks allotted for the UMPPs should start within 730 days of the Coal Ministry’s approval. This deadline expired in March 2012.

The project, a part of the four ultra mega power projects planned by the ministry of power across the country, had been put under the cold carpet. Now, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh is taking the initiative to revive and give breathe life into the project that would change the social-economic condition of the otherwise most backward region.

“I would urge the Prime Minister to allot an alternative coal block for the Sarguja project as the one allocated earlier had gone in the no-go area,” Singh said while addressing the gathering in Bilaspur.

Prime Minister was also present at the function organized to dedicate the Sipat power plant of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) in Bilaspur on Thursday.

A new coal block was immediately required for the project to set the construction work on roll, he said, adding that the Prime Minister should take immediate action on the proposal.