Non-payment of dues worth Rs 680 cr may lapse acquisition process After an expert appraisal committee (EAC) of the Union environment ministry deferred green clearance for the Rs 16,000-crore Ultra Mega Power Plant (UMPP) in Odisha, the mega power plant faces hurdle over private land acquisition. The entire process of acquisition of private land measuring 2732.56 acres runs the risk of getting lapsed for the 4000 MW plant due to non-passing of award within the statutory period. Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco)- the state's nodal land acquisition agency is livid over non-payment of dues amounting to Rs 679.67 crore by Odisha Integrated Power Ltd (OIPL), a fully owned subsidiary of Power Finance Corporation (PFC). OIPL is responsible for UMPP implementation. "The land owners are facing a lot of problems as the land transaction has been stopped after issue of 6 (1) declaration (under Land Acquisition Act) for the 4000 MW UMPP at Bhedabahal in Sundergarh district. This has given rise to discontentment among the local public. Steps may be taken for payment of government dues and Idco administrative charges amounting to Rs 679.67 crore immediately on account of acquisition of land for the project”, P K Jena, Odisha's energy secretary wrote to director and project-in-charge, OIPL. Notification under Section 6 (1) of Land Acquisition Act has been issued for acquisition of private land totaling to 2732.56 acres in six villages in Sundergarh district. The whole process of land acquisition needs to be completed by June 2013. But, the process has been stuck up for non-deposit of funds by OIPL with Idco. It is feared that the whole process of land acquisition may get lapsed due to non-passing of award within the statutory time period in the wake of delay in payment of land cost by OIPL. The UMPP had lately got a jolt after the Union environment ministry's EAC deferred clearance for the project. The EAC observed that the information submitted was grossly inadequate and the project proponent did not appear to be seriously concerned as far as social impact of the UMPP is concerned. "In view of the missing essential gaps of information, the committee strongly felt that the proposal was too premature for consideration of grant of environmental clearance," the EAC said. "The committee also decided that the project proponent shall revert with point-wise TOR (terms of reference) compliance along with the compliance to the above mentioned specific issues with requisite maps and relevant documents for re-consideration. The proposal was accordingly deferred", it added. The UMPP needs 3100 acres of land in all. Odisha would get 1300 MW as its share from this project. Water for this UMPP has been allocated from the Ib river and check dams and barrages would be put up on the river for this purpose. It may be noted that Meenakshi, Meenakshi-B and Dipside Meenakshi coal blocks have been alloted for the UMPP with a total reserve of 880 million tonnes.