Mamata lays foundation stone of ₹16,000-crore power plant; project to generate 15,000 jobs
In a major boost to the industrial development in the State, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday laid the foundation stone for a pollution-free power plant by the Jindal Group at Salboni in Paschim Medinipur district. The initiative by JSW Energy, at an investment of ₹16,000 crore, is expected to create over 15,000 jobs and generate 1,600 megawatt power, which will help in meeting the State's power demand.
The Jindal Group also launched a new age 2,000-acre tech park with plug-in facilities near the project site with an aim to lease it to other industries.
The power plant project, which was announced during the 8th Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) in February 2025, will have two units generating 800 MW each.
'The Salboni land belongs to the farmers here. You will all get employment here, your next generation will also benefit from the project,' chairman of JSW Group Sajjan Jindal said.
Mr. Jindal also said that they will start a skill-development centre in the area to help generate job opportunities in the State.
The company now has a 25 year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL). The plant will utilise domestic coal allocated to the State under the SHAKTI B (IV) policy.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Banerjee said, 'This power plant will provide electricity to over 23 districts and is the first of its kind in Eastern India. Of the 19 lakh crore investment proposed during the BGBS, 13 lakh crore had already been invested. The rest is in the pipeline.'
The JSW Industrial Park is set to have a plug-and-play infrastructure, targeted to lease to other companies for industry work. It will follow modern urban planning with grid and renewable power sources, including railway and highway connectivity to attract industries.
The CM further added that when her government came to power only 2,000 MW energy was produced in the State, now the production stands at 10,000 MW. She promised that her government plans to increase it to 18,000 MW to keep up with the rising demands and industrialisation in the State.
Among others present at the event were State Power Minister Aroop Biswas, actor-turned MP Deepak Adhikari (Dev), MP June Malia, cricketer Sourav Ganguly, among others.
'Whoever says that there is no industry in Bengal should witness this event. Mamata Didi is helping realise the dream of 'Egiye Bangla' (Bengal Forward) to create more industries and jobs in the State,' Mr. Dev said.
Since 2007, Salboni had seen a rise in industrial investments, when a JSW steel plant was proposed in the area. In 2018, Jindal's launched a cement plant in the same area, boosting the industrial plans for the region.
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