Orissa speeds up UMPP site selection

Orissa government has expedited site selection work for two more Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPPs) by issuing directions to different departments to comply the requirements for the proposed projects, official sources said today.

"Departments of water resources, revenue and forest and environment are asked to comply with the requirement of setting up two more UMPPs in the state," Energy Secretary P K Jena told PTI.

Jena, who attended the high-level meeting for site selection on two other UMPPs, pointed out that three places like Dhamara in Bhadrak district, Astarang in Puri district and Titlagarh in Balangir district, had been shortlisted for setting up two UMPPs.

While a pithead thermal power station could be set up in Titlagarh, Dhamara and Astarang are shore based.

Power department plans to set up nine UMPP, of which five were shore based and four others pitead power stations.

Stating that Central Electricity Authority (CEA) would select two of the three choices for setting up the UMPPs, the energy secretary said the state had already pocketed one such project.

CEA had already selected Bedabahal in Sundergarh district to house an UMPP, he said adding CEA was looking for two more locations in the state for the purpose.

The proposed UMPP at Bedabahal having 4,000 Mw capacity, would give about 1300 Mw power to the state at a nominal price, Jena said.