The Central Electricity Authority has rejected the Karnataka government's proposal to set up an UMPP at Ghataprabha near Belgaum and, instead, suggested a site either at Tadri near Karwar or near the Almatti dam.
A team of CEA and PFC officials who visited Ghataprabha last month, to identify a suitable site for the UMPP, rejected it as the movement of coal from port to site would be a problem as it was 150 km away from the coastline. Availability of water and agitation by the locals were seen as other impediments.
The CEA has asked the state government to reconsider the feasibility of setting up the UMPP at coastal Tadri or near the Almatti dam, if water can be allocated from its reservoir.
Chhattisgarh UMPP: The Chhattisgarh government has confirmed a site at Salka and Khamaria villages near Udaipur in Surguja district for an UMPP.
The CEA had initially identified a site at Akaltara in Jangir-Champa district. However, the identified coal blocks in Hasdeo Arand coalfields was over 160 km away. The Central Mine Planning & Design Institute identified new sites near the villages of Kedarpur, Talangau, Salka and Khameria. The state government then confirmed the availability of a site at Salka and Khameria villages.
Akaltara Power Ltd, a PFC subsidiary, is the SPV for the UMPP.

— Mrinalini Prasad