Bhubaneswar: Union Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has sought personal intervention of Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power RK Singh for expediting Stage-III expansion of Talcher Thermal Power Station (TTPS).
“Keeping in view the need for ensuring sustained availability of low-cost and reliable power for rapid socio-economic development of Odisha and eastern India, I urge for your personal intervention in the matter,” wrote Pradhan in a letter addressed to the Union Mos for Power.
The Union Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister pointed out that the project is very crucial for the livelihood of the local populace and the strengthening of the local economy.
Pradhan stated that as envisioned in the Purvodaya Mission by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Odisha has a key role as the driver of economic growth in eastern India and it has already emerged as an international hub in the petroleum. petrochemicals. logistics. steel, and mineral sectors.
Supply of low-cost and reliable power to the State is critical for supporting and boosting economic growth in the region, he added.
He said the per-capita consumption of power in Odisha has steadily risen from 1349 KWH in 2013-14 to 1628 KWH in 2018-19 due to initiatives like SAUBHAGYA and DDUGJY schemes successfully executed by the Power Ministry.
At present, Odisha has 30.000 MW of power requirement, which is likely to increase substantially in the future, he added.
Pradhan said in 2010, NTPC had proposed a project for Stage-3 expansion of TTPS by 1320 MW as a state-of-the-art super-critical power station comprising of two units of 660 MW each which would provide Odisha long term power for 25 years.
The project was accorded Mega Status by the Ministry of Power in October 2011. Necessary clearances from the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change were obtained by NTPC, he added.
The Union Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister pointed out that NTPC has filed an application with the Government of Odisha’s Single Window Clearance on April 18 in 2017, being a large project it required project clearance by the High Level Committee of the State Government.
The proposal was finally approved by a Government of Odisha High Level Committee in February 2020, he said.
It may be mentioned here that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday also wrote Union MoS for Power to take steps for the early execution of TTPS Stage-III Project.
