The wildlife clearance hurdle for the 2×500 MW Tutucorin Thermal Power Project has held up project execution by Neyveli Lignite Corporation. In a meeting held in March last year the National Board for Wild Life had told the company that the proposal shall be considered only after the recommendations of the State Board for Wild Life (SBWL). However, despite constant persuasion by NLC, the SBWL has not recommended the proposal till date and as a result the project has not made any progress. There is every possibility that the clearance may be further delayed as the National Board for Wild Life is yet to be reconstituted, after expiration of its three year tenure in September 2013.
In another setback for the project, of the 127.46 ha of port land leased out to NLC for the project by VOC Port Trust (VOCPT), 59 ha has been classified as forest land in the revenue records by the Tamil Nadu government. The matter is presently pending with the Principal Secretary, Environment & Forests Department of Tamil Nadu.
