Plan drawn up for implementation of projects

Perambalur, Dec 10 (UNI) The Authorities of the Jayakondam Lignite Power Project (JLPP) has drawn up a time-bound plan for expeditious implementation of the mine-cut project and thermal power station of JLPP.

A decision to this effect was taken at a high level official meeting held here yesterday.

Official sources said the meeting had also decided to finalise a feasibility report for the mine and thermal station by February 2008.

The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and the Environment Management Plan (EMP) would be prepared next month and forwarded to the Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board(TNSPCB) for a public hearing in April next year.

The minutes of the public hearing would be received in May and the proposal would be sent to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests in June for clearance, the sources added.

The sources also said a report on the project for approval would be sent to the Board of Directors of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation in March 2008. The Public Investment Board of NLC would submit its report to the Union Ministry of Coal in May 2008 and they hope to get the clearance by August 2008, the sources added.

It had planned to obtain the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in November 2008 and the Centre's sanction for the JLPP in December 2008.

The sources pointed out that it had been planned to generate 1,600 mw of power in the first phase and two units, each of 800 mw capacity, would be set up. The project cost would be around Rs 10,000 crore, the sources added.

UNI