Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (Bhel) could set up a 1,600 megawatt power plant at the piece of land in Singur, West Bengal, where the Tatas were to build a factory for producing their small car, Nano.
A team of Bhel officials, led by general manager S C Mittal, inspected the abandoned 997-acre plot, about 45 kms from Kolkata, along with West Bengal Power Development Corporation officials. It is likely that the power project could be set up in partnership with the WBPDCL.
On the visit, the state industry and commerce secretary Sabyasachi Sen said, “The project is likely to be a joint venture between Bhel and WBPDCL. They wanted our help, which we have provided by showing them the land. Nothing is finalised yet.”
Echoing him, Debashish Sen, managing director, WBPDCL, said, “It could be a 1,600 mw power plant but whether it will be set up at this site (Singur) has not been decided yet.”
It is learnt that the Bhel officials have sought a detailed map of the project site, which is still in possession of the Tatas, and will soon start preparing a feasibility project for it.
Railways minister Mamata Banerjee, meanwhile, speaking of the site inspection, said that no matter who set up a project on this abandoned piece of land, will have to hand over the contentious 400 acres to the farmers first. The project can be set up on the remaining 600 acres, she said.
Tata Motors had withdrawn its Nano project from the state in October 2008 amid severe protests from the Trinamool Congress.
Later, Tata Motors chairman Ratan Tata had indicated that the company would be willing to return the land if the state government compensated it for the investments already made in the project.
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