Ghatampur power station

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Ghatampur power station is a proposed 1,980-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station in Uttar Pradesh, India.

Location

The photo shows the project location in Ghatampur taluk, as identified in the EIA. Google Earth archival imagery dated February 2017 shows site preparation to be underway..[1]

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Background on Plant

Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) has proposed setting up a 1,980 MW (3×660 MW) coal-based power plant in Ghatampur in joint venture with NLC Uttar Pradesh Power. Although one source reported that construction on the project began in June 2012, that report appears to be in error since as of August 2014 the company reports that land acquisition is still in progress, and the project is shown on the list of "future projects" rather than on the list of "projects under implementation."[2][3] So far the project has received a terms of reference and environmental clearance (EC).[4]

In 2013 NLC said nearly 2,500 acres of land had been allocated for the project and, of this, nearly 50 per cent had been acquired.[5]

Opposition

The Union Ministry of Coal had allocated the Pachwara-South Block in Dumka district of Jharkhand for the project. However, residents of the area have objected to mining. NCL said, despite the opposition, the project will not be delayed due to work suspension, and is on schedule for completion in 2017.[5]

December 2014: Project Still Stymied

The project applied for environmental clearance in January 2014. As of December 2014, the Times of India reported that the environmental clearance for the project remained blocked, due to lack of coal. Development of the Pachwara South block was among the coal blocks quashed by the Supreme Court in the Coalgate scandal. In addition, the Times of India stated that "Pachwara South coal block in Jharkhand is hard to come by because of tough forest laws. A senior official associated with the project said NLPC has sought import of coal for the power plant until a coal mine is allocated."[6]

2015: Project receives clearance

According to the India MoEF website (accessed April 2015), the project again applied for environmental clearance (EC) in February 2015. EC was granted on June 17, 2015. The permit states that imported coal from the Paradip Port will be used until the Pachwara South coal block attains the rated production.[7]

The plant is not included in a March 2016 India government list of coal plants under construction.[8]

In July 2016 it was reported the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had given its approval for the project.[9] It is under construction and planned for 2020-2021.[10]

Project Details

Resources and articles

References

  1. "Environmental Impact Assessment for the Proposed 1980 MW Super Critical Coal Based Thermal Power Plant GTPS," VIMTA Labs Limited, undated
  2. "NLC – UPRVUNL’s Ghatampur Power Project," Power Tracker, accessed June 2014.
  3. "Future Plans," Neyveli Lignite website, accessed August 2014
  4. Terms of Reference, India MoEF, Dec 28, 2012.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Neyveli Lignite Corp’s UP project hits roadblock," The Hindu, December 13, 2013.
  6. Pankaj Shah, "No nod from MoEF, Ghatampur power plant in rough weather," Times of India, December 28, 2014
  7. Environmental clearance, India MoEF, June 17, 2015
  8. "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country," Government of India Ministry of Power, March 2016
  9. "Cabinet approves 1980 MW coal based thermal power project," Business Standard, July 21, 2016
  10. 10.0 10.1 "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country," Government of India Ministry of Power, March 2017

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External resources

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