December 02, 2008

BALCO gets environment clearance for its 1,200 MW Korba plant

BL reported that Bharat Aluminium Co has recently secured clearance from the ministry of environment & forests for its 1,200 MW commercial power plant in Chhattisgarh. The project is estimated to cost INR 4,810 crore out of which INR 125 crore would be spent on environment protection measures.

Ministry of environment & forests, whilst granting the clearance, observed that the proposed power plant did not involve any forest land and that there was no designated forest area within 10 kilometer from the plant boundary. The public hearing, a precursor to the granting of environment clearance, was held in March 2006.

The coal fired plant comprising 2 units of 600 MW will come up on 355 acres of land in Risda village in Korba district in Chhattisgarh. The plant's coal requirement, estimated at 19,600 tonnes per day, will be fulfilled from south eastern coalfields Ltd and the water will be sourced from Hasdeo river.