Naveen seeks early execution of TTPS stage-III project

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday requested the Centre for early execution of the Talcher Thermal Power Station (TTPS) stage-III project.

Patnaik, in a letter to the Union Power Minister RK Singh, said that the power ministry should direct the NTPC to go ahead with the TTPS Expansion Project Stage -III (1320 MW).

The TTPS is one of the oldest thermal power stations of the country commissioned in 1968. The Stage-I (240 mw) and Stage-II (220mw) of the plant were set up by Odisha government in 1968 and 1982. Later, NTPC acquired it in 1995.

In 2010, NTPC proposed to expand the capacity of the station and install 2 units of 660 MW each. The State designated agency, GRIDCO Ltd. promptly signed Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with NTPC in December 2010 for 660 MW, informed the Chief Minister.

He said the TTPS Stage-Ill Expansion project has already got the approval of the State government in February 2020. However, NTPC is yet to start the execution.

Stating that the closure of TTPS from 31st March 2021 will have severe direct and indirect impact on thousands of families and the local economy, the Chief Minister urged the Union Minister to direct NTPC to address the concerns related to the closure of TTPS and take steps for early execution of TTPS Stage-Ill Project.