NTPC is also waiting for waiver of landholding ceiling to buy some 150 acres from villagers directly, with the result that the project has been delayed by at least five years already In February last year, Banerjee had announced handing over of the land to the power producer to speed up industrialisation in the state. The land included about 20 acres of uninhabited stretches along the Ajay River in Bardhaman where a pump house was to be set up; some 50 acres of embankment on which water was to be transported; and another 25 acres near the plant site, which belonged to the agriculture department and was to be used for setting up a township.

In addition, NTPC had decided to acquire 150 acres from the farmers directly. After a series of dialogues with company officials, owners agreed to sell their land to NTPC, after which the power company entered into a land purchase agreement with nearly 100 families at the project site.