Maharashtra's ambitious 3,300-MW coal-fired power plant project in Dondaicha, Dhule district, has been officially abandoned. The Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Ltd. (MAHAGENCO) proposed the project, but it faced strong local opposition related to land acquisition and the cancellation of coal mine allocations. The plant, planned as a 5x660 MW facility, was set to significantly boost the state’s electricity generation capacity. However, land procurement challenges and resistance from local communities led to the project's collapse. Despite MAHAGENCO acquiring 540.05 hectares of both private and government land, farmers and residents voiced concerns about displacement, loss of agricultural land, and potential environmental damage, halting progress. The cancellation of the Dondaicha project underscores the growing difficulty of balancing large-scale industrial development with the concerns of affected communities and environmental protection. Meanwhile, Maharashtra is moving forward with other coal-based thermal power projects, including a 660 MW plant in Bhusawal (Jalgaon), a 2x660 MW facility in Koradi (Nagpur), and an 800 MW plant in Chandrapur. (Business Line)