Mukerian power station
{{#Badges:CoalSwarm|navbar-Indiacoal}}Mukerian Power Station is a proposed 1,320 megawatt (MW) coal plant in Punjab, India.
Contents
Location
The map below shows the location of Sanhwal in Mukerian taluk, but not the exact location of the project.
Background
The government of Punjab approved the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) power station in October 2011. The project had initially stalled in the approval process since April 2011. The delay involves a dispute over who is granted more clearances: public or private companies.[1] However, the project was approved in October 2011 and financial aspects were to be finalized by November 10, 2011. According to PSEB Engineers’ Association affiliated with the project, the financial restructuring plan will be finalized by December 31, 2011.[2]
A terms of reference was issued for the project in 2013.[3] The PSPCL is in the process of creating a special purpose vehicle (SPV), Mukerian Powers Limited, to kickstart the project. The corporation is hopeful of rolling out the first unit (660 MW) by 2018.[4]
In July 2013, the project received the 229 million tonne Deocha-Pachami coal block in West Bengal to Punjab. The grant of the coal block will allow the project to proceed on the fast track.[5]
In April 2016, Bhupinder Singh and Abhiraj S Randhawa of the Punjab Power Engineers’ Association said the proposed 1,320-MW project did not take off due to the fact that it was "nearly impossible to acquire land for the project."[6]
As of May 2016 the project has yet to receive environmental clearance, and plans appear to be deferred or abandoned.
Opposition and Soaring Land Acquisition Expenses
According to a September 2013 report, a new land acquisition act required the government to pay four times to market rate for land in rural areas and two times the market rate for land in urban areas, compared to the previous requirement to pay market value plus 30 percent. About 1000 acres in 28 villages will be affected by the new rules, adding to the expense of the plant. According to the report, the government was already "facing the ire" of local people.[7]
Project Details
Sponsor: Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL)
Location: Sandhwal village, Mukerian taluk, Hoshiapur district, Punjab
Coordinates: 31.9761372, 75.7395315 (approximate)
Status: Cancelled
Capacity: 1,320 MW
Type: Supercritical
Projected in service: Unit 1: 2018
Coal Source: 229 million tonne Deocha-Pachami coal block in West Bengal[5]
Estimated annual CO2:
Source of financing:
Permits and applications: Terms of Reference, India MoEF, December 10, 2013
Resources and articles
Related SourceWatch articles
References
- ↑ VK Gupta, "Power engineers decry govt over Mukerian thermal plant," Punjab State Electrical Board of Engineers' Association (PSEBEA) News, July 2, 2011.
- ↑ "Punjab approves PSPCL’s thermal project proposal," Industry Monitor, October 21, 2011.
- ↑ Terms of Reference for Units 1 & 2, India MoEF, December 10, 2013.
- ↑ Gurpreet Singh Nibber, "PSPCL to set up 1,320-MW power plant at Mukerian," Hindustan Times, May 31, 2013.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Jangveer Singh, "State gets 229 million tonne coal block: Thermal plant at Mukerian set to become a reality," The Tribune, July 4, 2013
- ↑ "PSPCL urged to acquire thermal power plant of supercritical technology," Tribune India, Apr 26, 2016
- ↑ Anju Agnihotri Chaba, "Now state will have to pay more to get land for power plant," Indian Express, 29 September 2013
