Traffic-cum-Tourist police stations in Himachal to ensure smooth flow on Manali highway
As of now, Himachal Pradesh Police have set up three TTPS in Baghed of Bilaspur, Nerchowk in Mandi and Bhunter in Kullu.
The central pollution control board has served notice to the 460MW Talcher Thermal Power Station (TTPS) to meet three conditions relating to suspended particulate matter and other norms by 2020 to get the required consent to operate.
The new project expansion of TTPS has in the meantime been hanging fire due to delay in clearances.
According to a top authority of TTPS, unless it implements the three conditionalities by 2020 December it will not get the consent to operate.
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On the other hand as per the norms laid down by the central electrical authority the power plant will automatically close in March 2021 as per the requirement of shutting down 50-year-old power plants.
In that case, if the new power plant expansion does not take place on time, then the state may lose the 460 MW power that it is getting from TTPS at the cheapest rate.
A TTPS source said that they can meet two of the three conditions but the other one would need investment of Rs 300 crore. “NTPC can’t invest such a big amount in the plant as it is to expire in three years time. If it invests the amount the power cost to Odisha will rise,” said the source.
TTPS has six units having a total installed capacity of 460 MW. Before it is wound up in March 2021 on account of age, the new plant under expansion plan should come up. Ironically while NTPC has completed all the required steps, the Odisha government had delayed clearing the expansion proposal for some inexplicable reason.
Sources said that NTPC wants to install two 660 MW units here at TTPS in lieu of the old plant and has advanced in its plan. It expects environment clearance by July next and has completed all official process to award contract for the construction of the Rs 7000 crore power plant.
“The process of award is in an advanced stage and once the EC and state clearances are available we will award contracts. The financial bid has meanwhile opened. We will take 42 months to complete the construction work and to commission from the day of the award of contract which is regarded as zero date,” said the official.
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