Centre to set up mega power projects in AP, MP and Gujarat

Hyderabad, Feb 24 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Minister for Information, Public Relations and Energy Mohd Ali Shabbir today announced that the Centre had chosen Krishnapatnam to estlablish a 4,000 MW ultra mega power plant, apart from two others in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

Talking to media after a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on the power situation, he said the government had already earmarked land and agreed to establish four-lane roads, and railway tracks for the project.

The state government had also agreed to increase the capacity of Krishnapatnam Port in Nellore district, where the project would be established, he said adding the project would use 70 per cent Indian and 30 per cent imported coal.

Mr Shabbir said 50 per cent of power generated in this project, expected to be commissioned by 2012, would be allocated to Andhra Pradesh. Problems regarding acquisition of land for the project were resolved at the initiative of the Chief Minister. AP Genco would also be establishing a 1,600 MW power unit at Krishnapatnam.

He said the state was purchasing power from PTC, Reliance, Adani, and Tata power trading companies apart from Navabharat, Vizag Steel Plant and Jindal companies. The total purchase was five million units a day (around 450 MW).

The Minister added the 127 MW Kaiga Atomic Power Project surrendered by AP earlier was now restored to the state and the Central Government had also allocated another 100 MW from the unallocated share from the Central power generating units of the southern region.

He said hydro-electric power was being generated from the Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar by discharging water downstream. He said the state government was supplying power to the agriculture sector for seven hours. Though there was a power cut of four to five hours in Mandal areas, he said, the government had instructed authorities to ensure that there was no cut during nights in view of the students' examinations.

UNI