The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval authorising Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd to initiate the process of land acquisition for future nuclear power projects in advance of project financial sanction. This is seen as a measure to cut
the project gestation period given that land acquisition, through state government machinery, involves lengthy procedures are can be very time-consuming.
NPCIL, the country's only nuclear power producers, currently has an installed capacity of 4,120 mw with the 220-mw Unit 3 of the Kaiga atomic power plant in Karnataka being the latest addition that took place in April last year. In the current fiscal year, 2008-09, the company has targeted to add 1,660 mw of new capacity spread over Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. For the 11th Plan, total nuclear power capacity addition is targeted at 3,380 mw.