Coal news and updates

NTPC to go by new land acquisition Act for Katwa project

September 12: NTPC Ltd Chairman and Managing Director Arup Roy Choudhury recently said the company is yet start acquisition of balance 150 acres of land for Katwa project and will take action according to the new land acquisition Act.

"Substantial land or about 565 acres is already available for the project at Katwa. We have almost 100% consent from the villagers for the balance 150 acres of land, but the acquisition process has not yet started," Choudhury said, adding, 99% of the people had approached voluntarily to the company for giving their land to the project.

NTPC will set up a 1200 MW power plant at Katwa in West Bengal once the land is acquired as per new Act.

He said NTPC will approach the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) to buy land for the project if required.

The CMD, however, said availability of coal for the project may be an issue because the Damagoria block, which was allotted for the project to West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd, had been surrendered.

"We do not have any coal linkage for the project. However, we will request West Bengal government to link some coal blocks for the project," he said.

"The moment we are able to sort out the land issue and we find some progress in the project, we will approach the West Bengal government for coal. We need around seven million coals annually for the project," Choudhury said.