DVC failed to keep its promises over power plant: WB govt

KOLKATA: In a bid to put the blame on DVC for the impasse over the Rs 10,000 crore thermal power plant in West Bengal's Purulia district, state Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee today accused the power utility of not keeping their word regarding compensation to land losers.

Referring to the land acquisition process for the plant at Raghunathpur which began in 2007 and when the local residents were promised jobs, Chatterjee said, " Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) should honour the agreement they signed during the Left Front regime".

Reacting to the letter written by DVC chief engineer and project head Debashis Mitra to the Purulia district magistrate, Chatterjee said, "His (Mitra's) primary responsibility is to run the site and resolve the dispute and give weight to the agreement which was signed in 2007, instead of making it an issue time and again threatening to pull out from the project. This is in very bad taste."

Chatterjee's comments came after Mitra said he had written to the DM, Purulia stating facts about the delay in project implementation and if necessary action was not taken by the state administration, the company would be left with no option other than shifting project from Raghunathpur.