Tuesday, October 25, 2011: In a joint initiative, Kerala and Orissa
have firmed plans to set up a 2,000 MW thermal plant in Orissa, sourcing
coal from Baitharani fields in the state.
The project details were discussed at a meeting of senior officials
from the two states, held here at the initiative of Kerala Chief
Minister Ommen Chandy last evening, official sources said.
The proposal would be taken up for the formal approval of the two
governments soon. The Centre had earlier allotted Kerala, Orissa and
Gujarat to prospect coal equivalent to 3,000 MW each for the three
states from the Baitharani fields. Initially, Kerala had thought about
setting up a thermal plant in Kasargode district by bringing its share
of coal but that plan had to be dropped due to local resistance.
Later, the state also considered the idea of building a plant jointly
with the NTPC but that also did not work out. It was against this
backdrop that the idea of a joint initiative by Kerala and Orissa was
mooted.
To start with, the two states would form a Special Purpose Vehicle
(SPV) for implementing the project, estimated to involve a cost of Rs
8,000 crore when completed in three phases of 650 MW each.
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