WB govt clears hurdle for NTPC project

The West Bengal government today decided to allot an additional 98 acre land and provide coal linkage with riders to NTPC's proposed 1,600 MW plant, clearing two major hurdles for the project.
"They will be generating 1,600 MW from the project. We have accepted everything. We are giving them land and coal linkages, but there is only one condition that 85 per cent of the power to be generated from the project would be given to us," Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told reporters here.
This would help remove uncertainty over implementation of the proposed project at Katwa in Burdwan district, she said after a Cabinet meeting held outside Kolkata for the first time.

Stating that NTPC had around 500 acre which was acquired by the previous Left Front government, Banerjee said it was decided to give an additional 98 acre from government held land so that there was no pressure on land owners.
"We will give coal from our pool resources like state power utility PDCL and other pool resources for the project," she said.
When implemented, the project would be big gain for the state, she said.
Stating that West Bengal was a power surplus state, she said a power bank has been set up and excess generation could be given to other states.

NTPC a few months ago had said that unless 150 acre of land was provided by the state government it was not possible to go ahead with the project.