Business Standard reported that National Thermal Power Corporation,the country's biggest power generation utility,is expected to offer consultancy support to state owned Odisha Thermal Power Corporation Ltd for its 2,400 MW coal fired power plant.

Since OTPCL,a 50:50 JV between Odisha Mining Corporation and Odisha Hydro Power Corporation,is inexperienced in executing thermal power project,top state officials had requested NTPC to provide technical consultancy to the state PSU.

The power behemoth has been urged to help OTPCL in preparation of detailed project report,designing the plant specifications,developing tender documents,conducting bid for selection of equipment supplier and EPC contractor,providing quality assurance support during the construction phase,commissioning of the project and post commissioning supervision for one year.

The 2,400 MW project of OTPCL proposed at Kamakhyanagar in Dhenkanal district and taken up a cost of INR 10,000 crore,needs 1,969.78 acres of land which includes 987.77 acres of government land and 83.94 acres of forest land in addition to 982.015 acres of private land.Notification for land acquisition under Section 4(1)of Land Acquisition Act has been issued.Notification under Section 6(1)is expected to be issued soon.

But OTPCL's power project is mired in uncertainty after the two promoting PSUs OMC and OHPC recently lost their allocated coal blocks Mandakini-B and Baitarani West.