Even though Jayamkondam lignite-based mine-cum-thermal power project is a non-starter, officials at the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) have been expressing hopes about its revival.
R. Kandasamy, Director (Planning and Projects) of the NLC told The Hindu on Monday that “we have been requesting the State Government to help us to revive the project that has been hanging fire for decades for several reasons. Currently, we are facing hurdles in the form of land acquisition. We need about 12,000 hectares, of which 3,000 hectares is occupied by 40,000 people of 12,000 families from 22 villages. Besides, there are 57 educational institutions. It is a hard task to shift everyone.”
As per the original plan, the project consists of 13.5 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) lignite mine and setting up two units of 800 megawatt each thermal power plant.
The cost of the mine would be Rs.8,750 crore and that of the power project Rs.9,000 crore.
Unhappy with the compensation package, some local people had resorted to legal course of action, the official said.
When asked, the NLC Chairman and Managing Director A.R. Ansari said that he was positive the project would take off soon.
The Corporation was pursuing the project as the area had a rich deposit of lignite with which NLC could sustain for 30 years.
