GMR power project hits roadblock in Chhattisgarh

October 5th, 2009 RAIPUR - Chhattisgarh has embarked on a plan to become a leading power producer in India, signing 61 deals with independent power producers (IPPs) to generate about 50,000 MW of electricity, an official said Monday. The coal-fired power projects will come up in northern Chhattisgarh, a coal-rich belt, on a total investment of around Rs.250,000 crore.

July 29th, 2009 RAIPUR - Maoist violence in Bastar region has prevented the Chhattisgarh government from carrying out a count of tigers, the state assembly was informed Wednesday. Forest Minister Vikram Usendi told the assembly in a written reply that the count of tigers of the Indravati tiger project had not been undertaken for several years as the area is dominated by Maoists rebels.

July 23rd, 2009 RAIPUR - Power utility NTPC Ltd has agreed to provide 35 percent of the electricity produced at its upcoming 500 MW stage-III Korba project to Chhattisgarh, a government statement said Thursday. "NTPC (formerly National Thermal Power Corp) has agreed to provide 175 MW power to Chhattisgarh from its 500 MW stage-III Korba project that will begin generation by February 2010," the statement said.

July 23rd, 2009 RAIPUR - A 500 MW power plant in Chhattisgarh that stopped production July 14 due to coal shortage has resumed generation, a company official said Thursday. The NSPCL plant, set up by state-run National Thermal Power Corporation and the Steel Authority India Limited, is located at Bhilai in Durg district, some 30 km west of here.

July 11th, 2009 RAIPUR - India's largest power producer NTPC, formerly National Thermal Power Corp, Sunday signed an agreement with the Chhattisgarh government for setting up a 4,000 MW coal-fired power plant on an investment of Rs.20,000 crore. Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who was present during signing of the pact, said the plant would be set up in the coal-rich Raigarh district.

June 23rd, 2009 RAIPUR - Decks have been cleared for the 4,000-MW ultra mega power project (UMPP) in Chhattisgarh as the central government has finally approved the project, ending months-long controversy. The government, which had earlier selected Chhattisgarh as one of the five states for setting up UMPPs, reportedly rejected the project last August as the state government stuck to its demand for 50 percent of power at "invariable cost" from the project.

June 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) Friday gave go-ahead to the 100-MW Tripura gas-based power project, to be developed by the state-run North Eastern Electric Power Corp (Neepco). The estimated cost of the project is Rs.421.01 crore.

March 9th, 2009 RAIPUR - Nearly a hundred farmers took out a rally here Monday to protest land acquisitions by GMR Energy at Raikheda village in Chhattisgarh for its Rs.55 billion power project. The company is purchasing land directly from nearly 250 farmers for a 1,200 MW coal-fired power plant.

February 12th, 2009 RAIPUR - The interim railway budget presented Friday by Railways Minister Lalu Prasad has let down expectations of Chhattisgarh despite the fact that the state generates high revenue for the railways, Chief minister Raman Singh said here. 'The interim rail budget is disappointing, it has let down expectations of millions of people of Chhattisgarh,' said Singh in his reaction to the interim budget.

January 28th, 2009 RAIPUR - GMR Energy will begin construction work on its ambitious, albeit contentious, 1,200 MW Chhattisgarh power project by September, a top company official said Thursday. 'The company will begin construction work by September and we are confident about completing the land acquisition within three-four months,' GMR Energy chief executive Raaj Kumar told newsmen here.

January 24th, 2009 RAIPUR - Power producer GMR Energy's plans to build a 1,200 MW coal-fired power project in Chhattisgarh's Raipur district has hit a major roadblock, with local farmers vowing to go to 'any extent' to block the Rs.55-billion (Rs.5,500 crore) facility. The government's efforts to acquire about 1,100 acres for the project in Raikheda village, some 35 km from state capital Raipur, have been opposed by the farmers, who say the plant will pollute the region, endangering the health of thousands of villagers.

January 17th, 2009 RAIPUR - Chhattisgarh will start generating up to 700 MW power over the next three years using dust from coal washeries, Chief Minister Raman Singh said Sunday. Speaking at the two-day convention on 'Energy security from renewable energy sources' here, he said the country can narrow the widening demand-supply power gap by looking into options to generate power from non-conventional sources.

January 17th, 2009 RAIPUR - In an attempt to end the power crisis in Karnataka, Chhattisgarh will supply about 300 MW electricity to the southern state, an official said Sunday. 'We have formally approved the Karnataka government's request.

January 1st, 2009 RAIPUR - The second 500 MW stage-II unit of the state-owned National Thermal Power Corp's (NTPC) Sipat project in Chhattisgarh has begun commercial production, a company official said Friday. The approved capacity of Sipat Super Thermal Power Project, located some 140 km from here in Bilaspur district, is 2,980 MW.

December 31st, 2008 RAIPUR - The Chhattisgarh government Thursday announced that it has split the state electricity board into five entities - one holding company and four others to manage transmission, distribution, production and trading. The new companies are - Chhattisgarh State Power Transmission Co.