Owing to its failure to acquire the required amount of land, NTPC is facing difficulty in implementing the 1,320 mw (660 mw x 2) Katwa thermal power project in West Bengal.

The state government refused to give required land for a coal mining project, which is essential for the proposed power plant.

Following this,West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL) surrendered the Damagoria coal block allocated for this project.

While the project has 565 acre of land, another 150 acre was needed. But the state government was unwilling to either relocate six villages or move the Grand Trunk Road some 7 km for the mining project.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that NTPC may discuss the issue with the state government and seek coal from new mines for the project. The project would require seven million tonne of coal annually.

Earlier, the project needed 1,050 acre land. But through new technology, compromise on township and a revised plan on fly ash management, NTPC could reduce the land requirement.