State-run NTPC is likely to start with the 1,600 MW (2x 800 MW) Katwa project in the existing 556 acres acquired during Left regime. It had expressed its inability to purchase rest of the required land to the state power department.
Earlier company has forwarded a requirement of 1,030 acres for Rs 9,600-crore project. As per the requirement West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL) acquired 556 acres during the Left regime but after that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s decision to stay away from land acquisition for industrial projects prompted NTPC to buy the remaining land directly for the proposed thermal power project at Katwa in Burdwan. However, the company failed to directly purchase the land without government intervention.
