BHUBANESWAR: The Government on Thursday decided to take up the issue of granting statutory clearance to the coal blocks allotted to the Orissa Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) with the Ministry of Environment and Forest.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has reportedly convened a meeting on July 4 to discuss the energy security of the country and issues confronting the execution of various power projects.While the expansion plan of the OPGC’s Ib Thermal Power Station at Banharpali in Jharsuguda district is underway and the Ministry of Environment and Forests non-committal on granting forest clearance to the two coal blocks allotted to the State PSU in Manoharpur area, a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday decided to take up the issue with the Prime Minister before his July 4 meeting.In fact, the Chief Minister had earlier written to the Prime Minister in March objecting to the conditional clearance to three major power projects in the State including the expansion plan of the OPGC. Besides, he had taken up the issue with the Union Power Minister during his Delhi visit in April. But there has been no change in the stand of the MoEF.Although the coal blocks allotted to the UMPP and NTPC projects are coming under “no go” areas, the MoEF is ready to re-categorise them as “go” area provided the Ministry of Power does not press for other two projects.While the Power Finance Corporation (PFC) will set up an ultra-mega power project of 4000 MW capacity at Bedabahal, the NTPC is planning another mega power project at Darlipali in Jharsuguda district.Taking strong exception to the conditional clearance, the State Government said the coal blocks allotted to the OPGC at Manoharpur and dip side of Manoharpur in Sundargarh district are essential to meet the State’s future power requirements and socio-economic development of western Orissa.The Chief Minister even cautioned the Centre that it would be difficult for the State Government to extend desired support to the UMPP and NTPC power projects if the MoEF did not reconsider its decision on environmental clearance. Ironically, OPGC’s capacity addition plan worth ` 6,000 crore received environmental clearance from MoEF on February 4 last year. The corporation also entered into a long-term power purchase agreement with Grid Corporation of Orissa (Gridco) and land acquisition process has been completed.Minister of State for Energy Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Chief Secretary BK Patnaik, Steel and Mines Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Energy Secretary G Mathivathanan, OMC MD Saswat Mishra and OPGC MD Venkatachalam K were present.
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