Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, May 6, 2015 :

Unhappy over the coal bloc allotment by the centre, the Naveen Patnaik government now seeks allotment of  coal blocks for its power utilities.

Chief Secretary, G C Pati in a letter to the union coal ministry has demanded allocation of Chhendipada and Chhendipada-II coal blocks to the state owned Odisha Power Thermal Power Corporation Limited (OTPCL) for its upcoming 2,400-MW power plant in Dhenkanal district, officials said on Wednesday.

OTPCL – a joint venture between Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) and Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC), is setting up the power plant at an estimated cost of Rs.17,000 crore.

Power major National Thermal Power Corporation [NTPC] has proposed to partner OTPCL, which lacks the expertise to ground the project, to develop the proposed power plant.

“We have every right to get the coal blocks for the projects. The land acquisition for the coal blocks is in an advanced stage,” energy secretary, Suresh Mohapatra said.

However, NTPC wants 100% stake in the project and provide 85% of power to be generated from the plant to the state. “It would not be viable for us,” said an energy department official.

The Center has already allocated Manoharpur coal blocks to Odisha Coal and Power Ltd. (OPCL).

OPCL, a 51:49 joint venture between Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) and Odisha Hydro Power generation Corporation (OHPC), has been awarded the coal blocks.