NTPC project: decks cleared for EIA study

NTPC has set in motion work to conduct environmental impact assessment for 4x1000 MW Rs.20,000-crore Pudimadaka supercritical power project coming up near here.

The company breathed easy with expert appraisal committee recently clearing the terms of reference for conducting environmental studies.

Earlier, the EAC of the ministry raised serious objections over location of project site in the vicinity of a creek, salt pans and falling in tsunami and flood-prone area and asked it to submit a revised layout plan.

Land acquisition

The company has already acquired 700 acres and is expecting to take possession of remaining 500 acres from the APIIC shortly. The TDP government allotted 1200 acres on a fast-track mode for the project, which was hanging fire for a long time due to lack of response from the previous government.

The project is on the right track and we will go ahead with work as per original schedule, NTPC Group General Manager and in-charge of Pudimadaka project P.S. Radhakrishnan told The Hindu . He said Vimta Labs of Hyderabad would conduct EIA.

The study is expected to be completed by May. Work on conducting other studies for the project is also in progress.

The project is located around 50 km from Visakhapatnam and in close vicinity of Simhadri Super Thermal Power Project, Parawada. Simhadri is also contemplating seeking 400 acres from the government to set up a supercritical unit.

Pudimadaka project will have high efficiency and low emissions due to sourcing of coal from abroad. The company will import 13.7 million tonne of coal for the project. The company has already issued global tenders for appointment of consultants and to supply coal.

After bifurcation, NTPC announced to take up construction of 4000 MW Greenfield power plant in Telangana. The first phase of the project to commission 1600 MW will be executed at Ramagundam.

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NTPC project: decks cleared for EIA study