Katwa project's land acquisition woes bother NTPC

NTPC is awaiting the transfer of the supercritical 1,600-MW Katwa power plant by the West Bengal government before it can take measures to implement the project.

NTPC Chairman and Managing Director Arup Roy Choudhury said that the Rs 10,000 crore project is currently under state-owned West Bengal Power Development Corporation and the Navaratna power company has agreed to its takeover and has already signed the PPA.

The process requires a nod from the state Cabinet, he said. The thermal power project envisages the acquisition of 1,035 acres of land.

But 400 acres had been acquired due to resistance from locals then backed by the Trinamool Congress. The present TC government has already announced that it will not meddle with land acquisition and the industry should do it themselves.

However, if NTPC does not get adequate land, it will realign the project, depending upon the situation, NTPC officials said. With more power projects in the pipeline, NTPC would be able to offer West Bengal 3,000 Mw in the next 4-5 years, they said.