West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday laid the foundation stone for a Rs 160 billion ultra-supercritical thermal power plant at Salboni in Paschim Medinipur. Developed by JSW Energy, the 1,600 MW greenfield project marks a major addition to Bengal’s power capacity and industrial roadmap. The project will include two 800 MW units, with the first expected to be operational in 42 months and the second in 48. Calling it a landmark initiative, Banerjee said the plant would serve 23 districts and generate 15,000 jobs. “This is the first ultra-supercritical thermal project in Eastern India. It’s a big leap for Bengal,” Banerjee said, adding that the state’s power generation has jumped from 2,000 MW in 2011 to 10,000 MW, with plans to scale up to 18,000 MW. Banerjee highlighted upcoming projects in Santaldih, Durgapur, and Sagardighi, and said Rs 480 billion will be invested to ramp up capacity. She noted that over Rs 760 billion has already been spent since 2011 to ensure an uninterrupted power supply across the state. Consumer numbers have more than doubled—from 10.7 million in 2011 to 23 million now—signalling rising demand. To meet this, the state is also banking on the upcoming Deocha-Pachami coal mine, set to be the world’s second-largest. JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal described Salboni as a “dream project”, saying the plant would use cutting-edge, zero-pollution technology and support Bengal’s energy needs. He also announced a new 2,000-acre industrial park near the site and committed to setting up a skill training centre, a move welcomed by the CM. Reiterating Bengal’s investor appeal, Banerjee said the new Synergy Committee has already cleared Rs 10 billion worth of proposals within 15 days. Of the Rs 4.4 trillion proposals received at the last business summit, projects worth Rs 10 billion are in progress, while Rs 13 trillion out of Rs 19 trillion proposed investments have been implemented. She said 3.5 lakh km of electricity lines and 750 substations have been added, and six economic corridors are being developed. In Purulia’s Raghunathpur, Rs 720 billion worth of investment is underway, with five large companies setting up units. Addressing critics, Banerjee said, “You can criticise me, but you can’t ignore what Bengal is achieving. We do things the right way.” She also called for unity and inclusiveness, saying India’s strength lies in its diversity.Image source:www.deccanherald.com