Darlipalli project: NTPC to start construction work by March

Even as the validity of the bids received for the 1,600 MW power project at the Darlipalli village of Sundargarh is set to expire by the end of this month, delays on the part of the Orissa government to accord forest clearances and allocate land for the project has put question marks over the construction schedule. But NTPC general manager in-charge of the Darlipalli project, SK Reddy, said that by the end of March, construction work was likely to commence.

For the project, NTPC needs 1,279 acre of private land and 350 acre of government land in Darlipalli and Raidihi villages, of which 34 acre is on forest land. Government and NTPC sources said land acquisition for the project is going on quite efficiently with over 50 per cent already acquired. “Everyday 20-30 people are coming for accepting compensation. It would not be long before we acquire the total land required for the project,” said Sundargarh district collector Rupa Roshan Sahoo. NTPC officials said only when 80 per cent of the acquisition is over, construction can start.

But official sources said the problem lay with the diversion of 34 acre of forest land, as the files are still lying with the Bhubaneswar regional office of the ministry of environment and forests. Sources said the files

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