GoM clears NTPC Jharkhand power plant; over-rules Natarajan
Last Updated: Thursday, March 01, 2012, 21:27 
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New Delhi: Over-ruling Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan, a group of ministers on Thursday decided to shift the proposed site of NTPC's 1980-MW North Karanpura power plant in Jharkhand, a move which will save six billion tonnes of coal reserves.While relocation of the NTPC's plant would save the coal bed, Natarajan opposed most of the projects that came up for discussion before the GoM citing green concerns, sources said.
"She was cornered in the meeting while others pushed for early clearances," they said.
The group of ministers (GoM), headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, decided that the NTPC's plant can be relocated to low coal-bearing areas in the vicinity.
On a different dispute involving mining in Mahan and Chhatrasal coal blocks in Madhya Pradesh, the ministerial panel asked the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to constitute an expert committee to assess the environmental impact on Rihand dam and report in 10 days.
The GoM is likely to meet again before the Budget to resolve several other contentious issues, hurting coal and power projects.
The government is trying to fast track environmental and other regulatory clearances to important infrastructure projects and the Prime Minister's office is directly monitoring the progress.
The North Karanpura power plant of NTPC has been a major bone of contention between the ministries of power, coal and environment for over a decade, as the plant site was proposed to be located at a place, which is estimated to hold six billion tonnes of coal reserves.
Besides Mukherjee and Natarajan, the 12-member panel's meeting was attended by Home Minister P Chidambaram, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal among others.
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