Nayachar projects clear another hurdle

6 January 2012

biswabrata goswami
NAYACHAR, 6 JAN: The state government seems to have earned the confidence of Nayachar residents allowing it to set up a 1,980 MW thermal power plant.
The project has been stalled after the Centre delayed the environmental clearance saying it would affect the livelihoods of nearly 5,000 fishermen and their families living on Nayachar Island in the Hooghly River near Haldia in East Midnapore.
Universal Crescent Power Private Limited, led by NRI industrialist Prasoon Mukherjee, will set up the plant with an investment of Rs 12,000 crore. At the Centre's behest, the company and the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) held a public hearing at Nayachar on Wednesday.
The company authorities assured the fishermen that the plant will not threaten their livelihoods by polluting the river. "The company will follow environmental guidelines," said Mr Srimanta Basu, a company spokesperson.
A fisherman who attended the hearing said: “If the company authorities keep their promises, we have no objection to the plant."
The state government signed an agreement with Mr Mukherjee's company to set up a thermal power plant, an industrial park, and an eco-tourism project on Nayachar Island with a total investment of Rs 26,000 crore. Mr Mukherjee said that 50 per cent of the coal required for the power plant will be imported from Indonesia. The rest will be acquired domestically.
An official of the Haldia Development Authority said the power plant will use a super-critical boiler to generate electricity. "The company has already signed an agreement with the state power utility to sell electricity."
Mr Tapas Gupta, the chief engineer of WBPCB, said: “We have noted down all comments made by the locals at the hearing and this will be sent to the Centre."
A state administrative official said: “As majority of the locals has no problem with the power plant, we hope the Centre will issue environment clearance for the plant soon.” The Trinamul Congress-led government has scrapped the erstwhile Left Front government's proposal to set up a chemical hub at Nayachar in East Midnapore on ground of environment pollution and protest from locals.
But, few months after the Trinamul came to power, Mr Mukherjee met state industry minister Mr Partha Chatterjee and submitted few proposals.
Mr Mukherjee had also got permission for a housing project at Baruipur in South 24-Parganas district, minister Chatterjee said.