Special cell to fasten land acquisition for NTPC

BHUBANESWAR: The Government on Tuesday decided to set up a special cell to expedite the land acquisition process for the two mega power projects of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).The issue of land acquisition was taken up by the NTPC mandarins at a high-level meeting presided by Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik here.  The Central PSU is setting up two mega power projects of 3200 MW each at Darlipali in Sundargarh district and Gajamara in Dhenkanal district. The State Government will get 50 per cent of the power generated at the two thermal projects.While the Darlipali plant requires over 2,700 acres of land, it is about 2,900 acres for the Gajamara plant. However, NTPC is facing problems with regard to private lands. The families likely to be displaced by the project are demanding Rs 40 lakh per acre.NTPC Executive Director (Eastern Region)  JD Nanda requested the Chief Secretary for a special land acquisition cell with a senior revenue officer in-charge to expedite the process.  The Chief Secretary directed Revenue Secretary RK Sharma to do the needful.NTPC had already received bids for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and the techno-commercial bids are under evaluation. The evaluation process will be completed by the end of November, official sources said.LAND FOR HOSPITAL: The proposed medical college and hospital (MCH) by NTPC at the district headquarters hospital in Sundargarh is facing similar problem. While the hospital has earmarked 11 acres within its campus for the MCH, the district administration is required to arrange another 14 acres in the vicinity which is yet to be done.NTPC has also agreed to the State Government proposal for upgradation of the district headquarters hospital with an intensive care unit (ICU). A power management institute of international standards at Dhenkanal is also in the offing.The Chief Secretary requested the NTPC executives to take expeditious steps for the expansion of the 420 MW Talcher Thermal Power Station (TTPS) which is fully dedicated to the State. NTPC has agreed to set up two super critical power units of 660 MW each.  TTPS has the infrastructure  facilities for the proposed expansion.