Delayed again, why the ambitious Gorakhpur nuclear plant project in Haryana is yet to gather speed
Khattar told mediapersons Saturday that the 2,800-MW plant, comprising four 700-MW units, will be rolled out in two phases: 1,400 MW by 2031, and the remaining 1,400 MW by 2032. He attributed the delays to the sandy terrain and technical complexities, adding that nuclear power plants typically require 13 years to complete.
This revised timeline marks a significant delay from the original target of 2020-21 and the more recent projection of 2028, highlighting the challenges plaguing this ambitious project.
Gurugram: The completion of northern India and Haryana's first nuclear power plant, the Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP), has been pushed back again, with Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announcing that the first two of its four 700 megawatt units will now commence operations only in 2031.
The announcement came during a visit by Khattar and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to GHAVP, a flagship project of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, in Fatehabad district's Gorakhpur Saturday.
'Today in Fatehabad, Haryana, along with Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri @NayabSainiBJP, I reviewed the progress of North India's first nuclear power plant — the Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP),' Khattar posted on X following a meeting with senior NPCIL officials and a tour of the site.
'This ambitious project will not only meet the long-term energy needs of Haryana and North India, but will also strengthen India's commitment to clean and sustainable energy solutions,' he added, underscoring its alignment with India's net-zero emissions target by 2070.
The project cost, initially estimated at Rs 23,502 crore in 2014, has now escalated to Rs 42,000 crore. Haryana will receive 50 percent of the generated electricity, with the central government taking the rest. Rs 80 crore is being allocated for development works in nearby villages.
Also Read: Haryana govt cracks whip: 80 irrigation officials in soup over quality of concrete used in projects
A project mired in challenges
GHAVP, envisioned as a cornerstone of India's nuclear energy ambitions, has faced a litany of hurdles since its inception. As of May 2023, ground improvement work was 74 percent complete, with critical components, like end shields and steam generators already on site, according to a state government review that projected operations by June 2028.
The latest delay pushes the timeline further, raising questions about the project's execution amidst India's pressing energy needs.
Jivendra Kumar Jain, project director, and H.K. Nigotia, Chief Engineer (Civil) of the project, did not respond to ThePrint's phone calls.
Parveen Jora, Fatehabad district BJP president, who accompanied Khattar and Saini on the inspection of the project site, told ThePrint Saturday that Khattar discussed in minute details the progress of the project and the challenges they were facing.
'The officers told Khattar that the civil work up to the plinth level is a major task, as it has to be given enough strength. However, the local soil, being sandy, posed challenges before the engineers. The officers also told Khattar that the civil work up to the plinth level is complete now, and the progress of the work will gather speed now,' said Jora.
The concept of establishing a nuclear power plant in Gorakhpur village took shape in 1984, when the region fell under the Hisar district. Fatehabad emerged as a distinct district in July 1997, and Gorakhpur was deemed suitable for the project due to its low seismic activity and the feasibility of securing land through compensation.
The central government gave its preliminary nod for the 2,800-MW nuclear facility in October 2009, prompting Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) to set up a project office in Hisar by April 2010.
Acquiring land proved challenging. The government secured 1,313 acres from Gorakhpur and neighbouring Kajalheri villages, but faced strong resistance from local farmers.
The 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan amplified these protests, drawing support from environmental activists and notable figures, like former Army Chief and Union Minister General (Retd) V. K. Singh—now the Governor of Mizoram—who raised concerns about safety and displacement.
The agitation persisted until late 2012, when a compensation package of Rs 46 lakh per acre was offered, resolving the farmers' grievances.
NPCIL purchased 186 acres in Badopal village in 2011 for a residential complex to house its staff and Central Industrial Security Force personnel. Local opposition, citing threats to the blackbuck habitat, forced NPCIL to scrap this plan in June 2018.
Despite these obstacles, the project moved forward, with then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laying the foundation stone on 13 January, 2014.
(Edited by Sugita Katyal)
Also Read: In Haryana, cops, lawyers & khaps unite to steer youth away from drugs, gangs & 'donkey routes'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
16 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Tale of Sun and sons: All about the Maran brothers and their link to 'Kalaignar' Karunanidhi
A dispute between the Maran brothers, Kalanidhi and Dayanidhi, has resurfaced. Dayanidhi Maran accuses Kalanidhi Maran of financial crimes related to Sun TV. He demands the restoration of Sun TV's original shareholding. Sun TV denies these allegations, calling them misleading and defamatory. The Maran brothers are related to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Kalanidhi Maran How Maran brothers are connected to Karunanidhi The 22-year-old alleged feud between the powerful Maran brothers is in the limelight after DMK Lok Sabha MP Dayanidhi Maran accused his brother Kalanidhi Maran of "financial crimes," and asked him to restore the entire shareholding position of Sun TV and related companies to their original state or face legal and regulatory action. The allegations, however, have been denied by the Sun TV through a stock exchange per ET's report, the timing of the alleged transaction coincided with the death of the brothers' father, former Union minister Murasoli Maran. Dayanidhi's contention is that Kalanithi used this opportunity to gain 60% control in the company, up from zero. without informing or consulting the other key stakeholder, MK Dayalu, wife of Karunanidhi, who was representing the Maran, born on December 5, 1966, in Tamil Nadu's Kumbakonam, is a seasoned Indian politician and son of the late Union Minister Murasoli Maran. He pursued a B.A. in Economics from Loyola College, DMK MP married Priya, who belongs to the family that owns and publishes The first entered the political field through Lok Sabha polls of 2004 and has since served multiple terms. His ministerial stints include serving as the Union Cabinet Minister for Communications and Information Technology (2004–2007) and later for Textiles (2009–2011). Re-elected to the 17th Lok Sabha in 2019 and again in 2024 to the 18th Lok Sabha, he is currently a member of several key parliamentary committees including the Committees on Home Affairs, Estimates, and Business his tenure was also marred by his alleged role in the 2G scam case. The CBI had alleged that Dayanidhi Maran, during the check period of June 2004 to December 2006, when he was the Union minister for communication and information technology, misused his office and installed a private telephone exchange at his residences in Chennai and used the facility for business transactions involving the Sun Network. It alleged that he had caused a loss of Rs 1.78 crore to the exchequer. More than 700 telecom lines were installed at their residences in Boat Club and Gopalapuram here, the agency charged. The former minister has been acquitted by the dabbling in his family's modest publishing business, the older Maran brother launched now worth Rs 23,000-crore Sun TV Network in 1993. Over the years, the Sun has turned into a regional television heavyweight with 37 channels reaching more than 140 million households in Maran holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Madras, Chennai and MBA from Scranton University, Pennsylvania, started the Tamil Sun TV channel in 1993 and built it into a sprawling media giant, encompassing multiple TV channels in south Indian languages as well as a film production house, taking advantage of connections with the state establishment, industry watchers told married Kavery Maran, and they have a daughter, Kavya Maran, who is the head of the IPL team, Sunrisers Hyderabad and South Africa's SA20 team, Sunrisers Eastern Marans were grandnephew of Karunanidhi, who served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for almost two decades. The reason behind Dayanidhi's entry in the cabinet has also been linked to Karunanidhi. It was seen that loved his nephew and Maran's father, Murasoli Maran, as much as his sons and that prompted the DMK leader to make Maran's younger son Dayanidhi a minister at the Centre in 2004 and who completed 50 years as DMK chief in July, was among the few regional political chieftains who had been key decision-makers in national politics. Having won elections to the Tamil Nadu Assembly 13 times, Karunanidhi held the rare record of not having lost a poll since his first electoral victory in 1957. He was chief minister of the state five times.
Economic Times
16 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Bharti Enterprises to invest Rs 313 cr in Eutelsat under fresh capital raise plan
Reuters The logo of the satellite operator Eutelsat New Delhi: Bharti Enterprise's space venture will invest €31.4 million (about Rs 313 crore) as part of French satellite group Eutelsat's fresh €1.35 billion (around Rs 11,250 crore) capital raising plan, aimed at paring debt and investing in satellite constellations. The French government will invest €526.4 million in Eutelsat and become the largest shareholder with a 29.99% stake, displacing Bharti Space, which will now own 18.7% stake in Eutelsat, the world's second largest satcom group and a chief rival to Elon Musk-owned Starlink. Other investors include shipping major CMA CGM with €100.4 million, with sovereign investor FSP putting in €57.8 million. 'I am delighted that under the leadership of President Macron, the French state has decided to back Eutelsat as the European Space Champion and increased its shareholding by injecting a sizeable investment into the company,' Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder & Chairman, Bharti Enterprises & Co-Chairman Eutelsat Group. Post merger between Eutelsat and Bharti Enterprises and UK government backed-OneWeb in 2023, the Indian group became the largest shareholder in Eutelsat with a 21.2% share. 'We are also thrilled to welcome the French armed forces ministry, DGA, partnership with Eutelsat in a long term €1B contract to reserve capacity on Eutelsat's low-Earth orbit OneWeb constellation for its mission critical needs,' Mittal this week, Eutelsat signed a 10-year agreement with France's Ministry of the Armed Forces under the Nexus program. The deal, worth up to €1 billion ( ?9,999 crore), aims to integrate military and civilian satellite resources and strengthen European capabilities in secure space capital raise comes at a time of heightened activity in the satellite internet space, especially in India. Eutelsat OneWeb, a unit of the Eutelsat group, is poised to start commercial broadband-from-space service in India, having received all necessary statutory clearances, except for more than 600 satellites since merging with British firm OneWeb in 2023, Eutelsat is the world's second-largest operator of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. But it remains far smaller than Starlink, which has 6,000 satellites.
Economic Times
17 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Sun TV shares tumble over 5% in intra-day trade amid concerns over rift between Maran brothers
Shares of Sun TV Network tumbled over 5 per cent in intra-day trade on Friday before recovering most of the lost ground to end 1 per cent lower amid concerns over a rift between brothers Dayanidhi and Kalanithi Maran. ADVERTISEMENT According to reports, Dayanidhi has sent a legal notice to his brother and several others, accusing them of "fraudulent practices" and "misgovernance" in taking control of Sun TV after their father Murasoli Maran's death in 2003. The stock of Sun TV dropped 5.20 per cent to Rs 581.55 during the day on the BSE. Later, it ended at Rs 606.80, down 1.09 per cent. On the NSE, shares of the firm tanked 5.25 per cent to Rs 580 during the day. The stock later ended at Rs 605.75 apiece, a decline of 1.04 per cent. A day after reports emerged of former Union minister Dayanidhi Maran accusing his brother of "fraudulent practices" and "misgovernance", the elder sibling Kalanithi-run Sun TV on Friday said the division between the promoter family done 22 years back was in compliance with all legal obligations. Defending its promoter Kalanithi, Sun TV Network in a regulatory filing said the agreements between the two brothers had been "duly vetted" by "intermediaries" concerned before the company's public issue. ADVERTISEMENT The board of Sun TV Network is led by Kalanithi as Executive Director and Chairperson. Kalanithi, as a promoter, owns 75 per cent shareholding in Sun TV Network. ADVERTISEMENT Sun TV Network said, "The alleged matter dates back to 22 years, when the company was a closely held private limited company". Defending the promoter, it further stated, "Statements allegedly made in the articles are incorrect, misleading, speculating, defamatory and not supported by facts or law". ADVERTISEMENT "We wish to inform that all acts have been done in accordance with legal obligations and the same had been duly vetted by concerned intermediaries before the public issue of the company," it said. Moreover, Sun TV Network also said the media reports claiming a rift between the promoter Maran brothers "does not have any bearing on the business of the company or its day-to-day functioning". ADVERTISEMENT Sun TV Network also clarified that it is a "family matter of the promoter" and is "purely personal in nature". (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel)
