The Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) has shelved the grant of environmental clearance to the ultra mega power project (UMPP) at Bhedabahal village in Sundargarh district of Orissa.

The delay in environmental clearance will postpone commissioning of the power plant and development of the attached mine, to source coal.

The green nod has been deferred by the Expert Appraisal Committee on environmental impact assessment of thermal power and coal mine projects, as details of water balance and availability, as well as details of rehabilitation and resettlement were not submitted by the company.

The project, with 4,000 MW capacity, is being executed by Orissa Integrated Power, at a cost of Rs 16,000 crore. The tender process for the same has already been undertaken by Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and nine companies have submitted bids for the project. The power project is to be awarded on 26 February, 2014.

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