PM to lay foundation stone for Andra power equipment plant
By IANSMonday, August 31, 2009
HYDERABAD - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will Sep 6 lay the foundation stone for the Rs.60 billion (Rs.6,000 crore) mega project to manufacture power plant equipment in Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district.
NTPC-BHEL Power Projects Private Limited (NBPPL), a joint venture between National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), is setting up the project at Mannavarm village near the temple town of Srikalahasti.
The prime minister will arrive in the temple town of Tirupati on Sep 5. After an overnight stay and prayers at Lord Venkateshwara temple, he will proceed to Mannavarm to participate in the foundation stone laying ceremony and address a public meeting.
Chief Minister Y.S. Rajashekara Reddy Monday told state legislative assembly the two Navaratna public sector undertakings have joined hands to set up a green field plant to manufacture equipment for thermal, hydro and gas based power plants.
The state bagged the prestigious project in May despite competition from other states like West Bengal and Maharashtra.
The project, the biggest public sector investment in the state after Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, is expected to provide direct employment to 6,000 people and indirect employment to another 25,000 people to 30,000 people.
The state government in June allotted 750 acres at a token price of Rs.1 for each acre. It would provide the required infrastructure like assured water, power and roads, Reddy said.
The NTPC-BHEL project would enable setting up of around 400 ancillary units, giving a big boost to the industrialization in the backward Rayalaseema region.
Meanwhile, the chairman and managing director of NTPC-BHEL Joint Venture Power Projects, C.P. Singh, called on the chief minister here and discussed the arrangements for the prime minister’s visit.
The chief minister urged the NTPC-BHEL Power Project chief to complete the first phase of the project by 2011-2012 and the second phase by 2013-14.
C.P. Singh said the project will enable setting up of more than 400 ancillary units giving big boost to the industrialization providing huge employment opportunities in the region.
