Ranchi: Jharkhand may tide over the recurring power crises soon. One of the two much-delayed super thermal power plants, North Karnpura Power Plant, being built by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), will be operationalised by September this year.
An assurance to this effect was given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Jharkhand Chief Secretary (CS) Sukhdeo Singh during the review of key projects in the state through video-conferencing on Wednesday.
North Karnpura power plant with 3×660 MW capacity and Patratu Thermal Power Plan with proposed capacity of 3×800 MW (in the first stage) were in the focus of talks between the PM and Jharkhand CS. While North Karnpura project is being implemented at the cost of ₹15,390crore, Patratu project is set to cost ₹18,000crore.
Officials said that the PM was apprised about status of work going on at North Karnpura. One of its units is set to start commercial production of power by September this year. “Power will be released in the grid after one-month trial operation through the transmission lines being set up by the Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL),” said an officer.
1st Unit of North Karnpura to start
North Karnpura is one of the long-pending power projects in Jharkhand. The proposal to set up power plant in Chatra district was first mooted in 1980. However, its construction began in 2014 after Modi took over as the PM. The project was to complete by 2018-19, but it kept lingering on for one reason or the other and deadline had be deferred year after year.
PM’s help sought for forest clearance
The Jharkhand officials also urged the PM to facilitate diversion of around 262 acre forest land for dumping and transportation of the flyash of Patratu power plant. The proposal for diversion of land is pending for clearance by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for many years. The JBVNL has assured to provide 30MW supply to Patratu Thermal plant for construction.
The CS is said to have urged the PM to facilitate the forest land clearance for Patratu and North Karnpura, clearance for right of way and payment of compensation to the affected land owners due to the projects.
Patratu Project to suffer more delays
As per reports, Patratu Thermal Power Plant (4000MW), commissioned as a joint venture company of NTPC and JBVNL, will start trial run of power production from March 2024The NTPC took over the Jharkhand Government owned Patratu Power Plant as JV project in 2016 and PM Modi had laid the foundation stone for construction of the new plant in May 2018.
The project is being commission in two phases. In the first phase, Patratu Power Plant will operationalise three units of 800MW each, while two units of the same capacity will be built in the next phase. “The first of the three units of 800MW will start generating power from March,” said an NTPC official.
Jharkhand has 26% stake in Patratu plant
The Patratu plant was to begin production from this year, but its deadline had to be deferred on account of the pandemic. NTPC has 74% stake in the project, while the JBVNL owns rest of share in the company.
