New Delhi: Speeding up the centre- funded developmental projects in the state, Trinamool Parliamentarians from West Bengal of both the Houses decided to meet the concerned Union Ministers in the national capital, where they took up issues related to pending projects of the respective ministries. To enhance the state-centre coordination, a delegation of the party's MPs comprising Rajya Sabha members Derek O'Brien, Manas Bhunia, Manish Gupta, Sukhendu Shekar Roy and Lok Sabha members Mala Roy, Saugata Roy, Choudhury Mohan Jatua and others met the environment minister Prakash Jvadekar on Monday.
The TMC representatives discussed and urged him to speed up the NTPC project in Katwa, West Bengal.
The party stated that despite repeated persuasion, Environmental Clearance (EC) could not be obtained from the environment ministry.
Further, the ministry directed NTPC to initiate the EC process afresh in the month of February, this year. West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd (WBPDCL) transferred the project to NTPC in 2012 and the feasibility report for implementation of Katwa STPP (2*660MW) was approved by NTPC in 2014.
The state government also stated that 90 percent of land out of 850 acres has been taken into physical possession by NTPC, however, no work, pertaining to the project has been initiated. This has affected the locals and the farmers, the delegation claimed.
Today, another delegation of the incumbent party in the state will meet the Union Coal Minister Prahlad Joshi to take up issues related to coal. A party source mentioned that TMC MPs might also meet the Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to discuss water distribution issues.