Thermal projects of more than 14,000 MW, at an estimated investment of Rs 70,000 crore, are embroiled in power play. The Chhattisgarh Government and Union Ministries for Power and Coal are ranged against Union Ministry for Environment & Forest for refusing clearances and putting the projects on hold.
The thermal power projects, apart from those from private power companies, were to be started by IFFCO and CSEB, a public sector company. Chief Minister Raman Singh has already met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Minister for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and others on the issue. The Chief Minister is likely to meet the Prime Minister in a bid to end the deadlock.
Official sources said the Chief Minister, during another meeting with Shinde on Wednesday, will discuss ways to remove the hurdles “However, if the discussions fail the Chief Minister may meet the Prime Minister again,” sources said.
The Union Ministry of Forest and Environment has not given clearance for 14 coal blocks in the Hansdev Forests, leading to about 14,000 MW power project hang in balance.
Official sources said that power plant of private power companies proposed to be set up in the same forest for generating about 9,000 MW power had also suffered following decisions by the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment.
“In fact the decision of the Union Environment Ministry has affected not only State’s but also Union government’s power projects,” a senior official said.
He further pointed out that 4,000 MW power project of NTPC and Ultra mega power project were also affected by the same decision.
Official sources said that the 14 coal blocks in Hansdev Forest were likely to impact only two per cent of the total forest area. “The forest is spread over an area of 7,50,000 hectares while coal blocks are confined to 14,000 hectares area,” they pointed out.
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