Delay in land acquisition hits Maithon power project

Sunil Mukhopadhyay

Kolkata, Aug 10: Delay in land acquisition has hindered the implementation of 1,000 mw Maithon right bank mega thermal power project (250 mw x 4) in Jharkhand, being promoted by Maithon Power Ltd (MPL). MPL is a joint venture of the Mumbai-based BSES and Kolkata-based DVC. Both have a 45 per cent stake each in the JV, while the remaining 10 per cent is with the financial institutions.

Of the 2,300 acres required for the project (including 100 acres for rehabilitation and 230 acres for compensatory afforestation) only 73 acres have so far been acquired, thanks to the serious efforts made by DVC chairman JC Jetli and secretary AK Basu in this regard.
“If the land problem is not solved, the project will be unnecessarily delayed,” a senior official says.

Conceived in 1980s, the project got the water release clearance from the Bihar government in 1995. The project has already got a number of statutory clearances, including a no-objection certificate from National Airport Authority, pollution control board as well as clearance from the environment and forest ministry.