Prime Minister Manmohan Singh headed Cabinet Committee on Investments (CCI) on Monday is expected to take up environment and forest clearance issues related to nearly Rs 50,000 crore of power projects.

These projects belong to private power companies such as Essar Power, Reliance Power and Jaiprakash Power Ventures, among others.

The high-level panel would discuss ‘diversion of forest land’ for Rs 20,852 crore Sasan Power Ltd. The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has to pursue with the Government of Madhya Pradesh for the Chhatrasal coal block associated with this power project run by Reliance Power.

The MoEF has granted in-principle approval for the project. Final approval is to be granted on receipt of compliance report from the State on conditions stipulated in the in-principle approval, a Senior Government official told Business Line.

A similar case is pending for Essar Power’s Tori-I power plant in Jharkhand. The MoEF has not received the required proposals from the State to give its go-ahead for the Rs 5,700 crore project. In addition, the CCI would also consider giving its nod for use of imported coal for all three units and environment clearance for remaining units till domestic coal is available for the Tori project.

For the Rs 8,100 crore Nigire project of Jaiprakash Power Ventures, CCI would take the matter for diversion of forest land for ‘railway sliding.’

On the other hand, the PM-led committee would consider diversion of forest land for captive coal block linked to the Rs 7,400 crore power project of JAS Infra and Power in Jharkhand.

Meanwhile, Athena Chhattisgarh Power Ltd is to sign fuel supply pact for coal sourcing for its Rs 6,200 crore project by September 30.

siddhartha.s@thehindu.co.in

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