The Rs 9,600-crore project would need about 1,030 acres

State-run NTPC has said it would go ahead with the 1,600 Mw (2x 800 Mw) Katwa project in West Bengal. It, however, added it had shelved plans to purchase the land directly. Earlier, NTPC had, for the first time, decided to buy land directly from farmers. However, owing to hurdles in the involvement of middlemen and the high prices quoted by farmers, the company decided against it. Now, NTPC has written to the state power department, urging it to acquire land for the company. The state government is yet to decide on NTPC’s request.