Reliance Power's Sasan UMPP stalled: Only 64% land acquired

Aside from water supply issues, Reliance Power`s 3,960 MW Sasan UMPP, in Madhya Pradesh, is also suffering from sluggish progress on the land acquisition front. As per the latest data released by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), out of a total land requirement of 3,488 acres, only 2,234.82 acres, or around 64.07%, has been acquired so far. In fact, even around three years after winning the project in August 2007, Sasan Power Limited (SPL), the RPL-owned special purpose vehicle (SPV) developing the project, has not been able to acquire the land needed for the main plant. As of July 1, 2010, 1,462.71 acres of land is available with the developer for the construction of main plant, out of the estimated requirement of 2,035.04 acres. Likewise, only 372.87 acres of land has been acquired, out of the 811.4 acres needed, for the construction of the ash pond, while around 399.24 acres, out of the total land requirement of 448.56 acres for the residential colony, have been acquired by SPL. No land is, yet, on hand for the coal handling plant and other important project components, such as the intake and discharge water channels, ash pipeline, etc.

However, on the brighter side, construction of boiler and power house building for the 660 MW first unit is presently underway. Further, boiler foundation for the third unit has been prepared, while construction of the boiler pedestals for Unit-II of the 6x660 MW plant has been wrapped up to the tune of 80%. Meanwhile, boiler erection work for the third unit of the plant commenced in June 2010. Moreover, SPL has obtained environment and forest clearances for the associated Mohar and Mohar Amlohri coal blocks, though both the green sanctions are pending for the Chhatrasal coal block.