Sipat power plant in Chhattisgarh yet to take off

Wed, Feb 13 02:35 AM

At a time when the Union Power Ministry is preparing a roadmap to implement the massive capacities planned for the XIth Plan period, public sector undertaking NTPC is facing difficulties to get the Sipat power project in Chhattisgarh implemented on time on account of several hurdles that include some fresh demands being placed by the state Government.

Even though the first unit of 500 mw was synchronised more than six months back, the plant has not been able to sell power to any of the states in the region as the Chhattisgarh Government first refused adequate water supply to the plant and then demanded a greater share of power from it.

Now a fresh problem has arisen which has brought construction of the second unit (again of 500 mw) to a grinding halt as project-affected people are demanding jobs within NTPC. Even though Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told The Indian Express that issues with the state Government will be resolved soon, it needs to be mentioned that the third unit of the plant (660 mw) has been stuck in Kasara ghat in Maharashtra for more than six months as proper clearances to transport the massive turbine were not in place.

The entire Sipat power complex is conceived to have two 500 mw units and three 660 mw units, thereby making the entire capacity 2980 mw. This plant meets the power requirement of the entire western region that includes states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and even Gujarat.

According to official statistics, as against a plan to generate around 400 Gwh of power in January, the first unit (500 mw) has failed to generate a single unit of power. While officials in the Centre say that the state Government did not give water for the unit and in turn demanded more share from this "regional" plant, the state Government officials told The Indian Express that NTPC failed to complete all the physical works of the unit (pipeline to the ash pond) which is why they did not approve water supply to the unit.

The Centre, on its part, refused to increase Chhattisgarh's share of power to 300 mw, because shares of individual states in the region were calculated on the basis of the Gadgil formula. As a compromise, the Centre has now promised to give additional power to the state from the "unallocated pool" of power directly under the discretion of Union Power Ministry.

State Government officials now say NTPC, a couple of days back, completed the balance physical works and water would be supplied to the unit. However, even though senior NTPC officials and state Government officials met this weekend to tackle the new problem of absorbing project-affected people, the solution proposed -- which also includes the number of people who can be employed within NTPC -- still awaits the ministry's approval.

RECOMMEND THIS STORY