Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Government has sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention for early environment clearance for stage-II of Shree Singaji Thermal Power Project coming up in Khandwa district.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had made this request in a letter sent to the PM yesterday.
The project is being executed by Madhya Pradesh Power Generation Company Ltd.
Chouhan said 2X660 MW units (under Stage I) are under construction and scheduled to be commissioned in 2013-14.
Land and water for 2X660 MW units under Stage-II are available and financial closure has also been achieved. MPPGCL is set to place order for power equipment but the further process has been held up for want of environment clearance.
MPPGCL had applied to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for its approval for the coal-fired plant. MoEF had accorded environmental clearance for Stage-1 in October 2003.
MoEF clearance is pending for the Stage 2 for which the Coal Ministry has allocated Gndbahera-Ujheni coal block.
In the letter, Chouhan maintained that the Prime Minister has been laying emphasis on attracting investment in infrastructure sector and fast-tracking such projects to boost economic growth.
This project is in advanced stage of implementation and grant of environment clearance will facilitate its early completion, the Chief Minister said.
