BHUBANESWAR: In a step towards making the State power-sufficient, the Government has started the process for establishing three ultra mega power projects (UMPP) in the State in collaboration with the Centre. The proposed projects were discussed at a high-level meeting, presided over by Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik, here on Friday. Issues, relating to identification of sites, were also taken up. Official sources said site for one UMPP has been finalised at Bedabahal in Sundargarh district. It has been decided that out of the rest two projects, one will be set up in Western Odisha while the other will be established in coastal Odisha. The inland site should be near railway line and Ghogarpalli coal block. A team of officials and technical experts, consisting of representatives from Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Power Finance Corporation Limited (PFC), Idco and Ipicol, led by PP Srivastav, Project In-charge, PFC, visited different sites in Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Balangir and Kalahandi districts. The team also visited several places, including Dhamra, Mahakalapada, Marshaghai, Titilagarh, Narla and Kesinga. Earlier, the team had also visited different places in Balasore, Jagatsinghpur, Ganjam and Puri districts. The team has submitted its report to the Chief Secretary. The Chief Secretary has advised that the projects should be set up in locations which will require least displacement and cause minimum inconvenience to people. Besides, he maintained that acquisition of irrigated land should be avoided and land use economised. Official sources said ash ponds would be located away from human habitations and appropriate use of water made. The State Government has decided to construct reservoirs and barrages to raise the water level in rivers. Official sources said capacity of each project will be 4,000 MW and all the three projects will involve an investment of around ` 60,000 crore at ` 5 crore per MW. Odisha will have 50 per cent power from two of the units and 1,300 MW from the unit at Bedabahal. Around 2,500 acre will be required for each project. Odisha will get power at lesser tariff from theses projects. Theses plants will make use of latest technology to minimise pollution and use of water. The projects will be implemented through special purpose vehicles. Principal Secretary in the Revenue and Disaster Management Department Taradatt, Principal Secretary in the Water Resources Department Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, Principal Secretary in the Energy Department G Mathivathanan and senior officials attended the meeting.
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