CCI-PMG fixes timelines to implement key projects

25 projects reviewed across sectors

The project monitoring group (PMG) of the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI) has fixed timelines for achieving key milestones of crucial industrial factors in sectors like steel, power, coal mining, road infrastructure and railways.

“At the meeting, we reviewed 25 projects in various sectors. Land acquisition and forest issues of these projects were discussed. There has been good progress on these projects. Timelines have been fixed in most of the cases and they are being adhered to”, V P Joy, joint secretary, cabinet secretariat told reporters after the meeting. Joy said, the Posco steel project or the coal-to-liquid project proposed by Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL) was not discussed at the meeting. Both these projects were in the agenda of the CCI-PMG meet.

The power projects that were scrutinised include the ones proposed by Monnet Power, Lanco Babandh Power and NSL Nagapatanam.

Monnet Power is establishing 1050 Mw (2x525 Mw) coal based thermal power plant under Chhendipada tehsil of Angul district at an investment of Rs 7,114 crore. Construction activity of the plant is in very advanced stage and the first unit of 525 Mw is expected to be commissioned by March 2015. The company is facing stiff resistance from local villagers for its 400 KV transmission line. Lanco Power, which is setting up 1320 Mw (2x660) power plant at Khadagprasad in Dhenkanal district, has sought expediting of private land acquisition for its ash transportation corridor.

NSL Nagapatanam has proposed 1320 Mw power plant at Tentulei in Angul district. It has requested grant of Right of Way for laying of underground raw water pipe lines from river Brahmani to the project site. The company is also awaiting allocation of land for railway siding from Talcher Road station to the project site.

The status of key rail link projects — Jharsuguda-Sambalpur, Talcher-Bimalagarh and Angul-Sukinda were reviewed.

The product pipelines of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) - Paradip-Haldia-Barauni and Paradip-Raipur-Ranchi were also vetted.