Bhubaneswar, May 26: Odisha is going to have three coal-based ultra mega power plants to be set up by the Centre with an investment to the tune of Rs 60,000 crore.

These three thermal plants will have an installed capacity of 4,000MW each. Odisha will get a 50 per cent share of electricity generated from proposed two plants and 1,300MW from the Bedabahal unit, which is already under bidding process.

At present, Odisha is facing a shortfall of around 600MW during peak hour because of drastic fall in hydropower generation. Around 2,700MW is being available from all sources as against peak demand of 3,300MW.

Ultra mega power projects, with a capacity of 4,000MW or above, had been planned by the Centre to create at least 1,00,000MW additional power by the end of the 11th plan. While the Centre provides infrastructure, these projects are awarded to developers on the basis of competitive bidding.

The Power Finance Corporation had invited preliminary bids for the Bedabahal project. However, the technical and financial bids for the Bedabahal have not been conducted.

While the location of the proposed plant has been finalised at Bedabahal in Sundargarh district, the Centre is scouting for ideal sites for the rest two projects.

A site selection team, headed by P.P. Srivastav from the Power Finance Corporation, recently visited a number of potential sites, including Mahakalpada and Marshaghai in Kendrapara district, Dhamra and Chandbali in Bhadrak district, Titlgarh in Balangir district and Narla and Kesinga in Kalahandi district. Earlier, the team had inspected different places in Balasore, Jagatsinghpur, Ganjam and Puri districts.

The site selection team, consisting of officials from the Central Electricity Authority and the Power Finance Corporation, yesterday met chief secretary Bijay Patnaik and other senior officials. The team members presented the topographical data collected from the sites.

Patnaik said one of the plants was proposed to be located in coastal belt and the other one in the interior Odisha. “The site selection team has proposed a site near Dhamra port in Bhadrak district, while the other plant may be located either in Balangir or Kalahandi district, ” he said.

Earlier, it was decided that the proposed plant in the interior Odisha should preferably be located close to the railway line and Ghogarpalli coal block.

Sources said the chief secretary advised the central team to identify locations that would require least displacement, avoid acquisition of irrigated land and ensure economic use of land.