Naveen Seeks PM’s Intervention On NTPC’s Chhattisgarh Project

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the concerns of the people in Odisha villages who will be adversely affected by NTPC’s 1,600 MW project at Lara in Chhattisgarh.

In a letter to the Prime Minister,  Patnaik informed that NTPC is setting up a 1600 (2×800) MW Super Thermal Power Project at Lara in Chhattisgarh at a distance of about two kilometers from the border of Odisha.

27 villages of Kandeikela, Remata, Kanaktora, Charpali, Pithinda and Badimal Gram Panchayats of Lakhanpur Block in Jharsuguda District will be adversely affected by this project, he said.

“It is learnt that while public hearing regarding Environment Impact Assessment has been done in the villages being affected by this project in the State of Chhattisgarh, no such public hearing has been done in the project affected villages in Odisha,” informed the Chief Minister.

He said it is also learnt that CSR activities in nine villages in Chhattisgarh have started.

“When this project is commissioned the environment, livelihood and health conditions of the people of the aforementioned 27 villages of Odisha will be seriously impacted,” said Patnaik.

He said this issue had constantly been agitated by the affected people and their representatives.

“In view of the sensitivity of the issue involved, I would request you to kindly intervene in the matter and issue suitable instructions to the NTPC authorities to address the genuine concerns of the project affected people of our State,” said the Chief Minister.