The Central Government is likely to finalise site for the proposed 4,000 MW second Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) in Orissa soon.

A team of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) will visit possible sites in Kalahandi and Bolangir districts during 24-25 April 2012 to finalise a suitable location. The team is likely to be accompanied by officials of the state departments of water resources, forest, revenue as well as that of state agencies- Industrial Promotion & Investment Corporation of Orissa (Ipicol) and Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Orissa (Idco).

One of the UMPPs will be a coastal project with Paradip and Dhamara being considered as possible locations. The state government is likely to get 2,000 MW from each of these two UMPPs.

Meanwhile, the bidding process has begun for the first UMPP with a capacity of 4,000 MW. The project will be set up at Bhedabahal in western Orissa's Sundergarh district. This UMPP will inject 1,300 MW to the state grid. The Bhedabahal UMPP, entailing an investment of Rs 16,000 crore, needed 3,100 acre. The Orissa Integrated Power, a fully owned subsidiary of PFC, has been named the nodal agency for implementation of UMPP in the state.

Also see:
Second round of bidding for Orissa UMPP in April (14-April-12)