Tata Power’s proposed a 2,000 MW gas based power project at Naraj near Cuttack in Orissa is likely to be delayed owing to delay in commissioning of gas pipelines passing through the state.

The company was banking on supplies from the Surat-Paradip natural gas pipeline proposed by GAIL. The Surat-Paradip pipeline will cover a distance of 400 km in Odisha. In addition to this pipeline, the 1100-km Kakinada-Howrah pipeline, which is under construction, is set to cover 434 km in the state. However, the gas pipelines are unlikely to be commissioned before 2017. Due to this, the company’s proposed plan for gas based project might get delayed.

Earlier, the company's coal based plant at the same site had faced hurdles due to its proximity to the Chandaka-Dampada wildlife sanctuary. The plant site was located within a distance of only 1.5 km and wildlife clearance was mandatory for any project to be located within 10-km radius of a national park or wildlife sanctuary. Therefore, the company changed its technology of the proposed power plant (coal based to gas based) which was necessitated by delay in obtaining clearances from the State Wildlife Board and National Wildlife Board. Earlier, the company has reportedly claimed that the land acquisition process was completed. The project was to come up on 1,000 acre.

Related Links:
Project profile