Balangir power station

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Balangir power station, also known as the Sahara Thermal Power Plant, is a proposed 1,320-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station in Odisha, India.

Location

The map below shows the proposed location of the project, to be built near the village of Luthurbandh village in Titlagarh taluk.

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Background

In 2009 Sahara India Power Corporation Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Orissa (now Odisha) for setting up a 1320 MW (2 x 660) Coal Based Thermal Power Plant in Turla Tehsil of Balangir District, at an investment of about Rs.5604 Cr.[1]

According to the India MoEF website (accessed April 2015), the project was considered for environmental clearance in September 2014, but the government committee asked Sahara India Power Corporation for more information before making its decision.

Citizen opposition

The proposed power station is opposed by local villagers. According to an October 2011 newspaper report, a company land acquisition agent, Niranjan Panda, was attacked and injured by project opponents in Luthurbandh village.[2]

According to the Environmental Justice Atlas (EJA) there could be socio-economic as well as environmental impacts caused by the plant's development. EJA reports, "People demand the shifting of power plants from the area to save the poor people’s land and their livelihood from being damaged permanently. They don’t oppose the setting up power plant. But the plant should not in such a fertile area where people are living peacefully and managing their livelihoods through agriculture."[3]

With no environmental clearance after nearly seven years, and no recent reports of activity to develop the project, it appears that the project is abandoned.

Project Details

Sponsor: Sahara India Power Corporation
Location: Ghantbahali, Mohda, Luthurbandh, Sarganamundh Jamjor, Podapodar & Serko villages, Titlagarh taluk, Balangir district, Odisha
Coordinates: 20.220833, 83.191667 (exact)
Status: Cancelled
Capacity: 1320 MW (2 x 660 MW)
Type: Supercritical
Projected in service:
Coal Type:
Coal Source: Mahanadi Coal fields
Estimated annual CO2:
Source of financing:
Permits and applications:

Articles and resources

References

  1. "Sahara signs MoU with Orissa government to set a Mega Power Plant," Sahara press release, February 9, 2009.
  2. Sudhir Mishra, "Sahara power plant official attacked in Balangir", The Pioneer, October 16, 2011
  3. "Balangir Power Station, Orissa, India" Environmental Justice Atlas, accessed April 2, 2014.

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