Power project after Environment Ministry nod: Sources

Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, Oct 15 (UNI) Preliminary work on the Rs 8,750 crore Jayankondam Lignite Power Project (JLPP) will be taken up after clearance from the Union Environment and Forest Ministry.

Official sources told UNI here today the project would be implemented in phases. To begin with, two units of 800 MW capacity each would be erected at a cost of Rs 6,750 crore. An additional Rs 2,000 crore would be invested in mine development.

Union Minister for Communication and Information Technology A Raja representing this constituency in Lok Sabha was making all efforts for securing necessary clearance, they said.

So far about 10,000 acre, including 8,000 acre from residents of Melur, Pudukkudi, Thandalai, Kallathur, Kolathur, Madukkalangkurichi and other villages had been acquired.

A majority of the landowners received compensation for their land while some of them had approached courts seeking more compensation.

To clear legal battles, Madras High Court had permitted the establishment of sub-courts at Jayankondam to settle the cases expeditiously.

According to current estimates, only 2,500 houses were to be demolished. The residents would be accomodated within the JLPP Township proposed at Edayar, Variyangkaval and Jaynkondam, the sources added.

The sources also informed efforts were on to acquire another 5,000 acre of land at Periyavalayam, Purancherri, Devimangalam, Angarayanallur, Vanathirayanpattinam and other villages for developing mines.

UNI