Kumaraswamy seeks mega project status benefits for Bellary unit

Bangalore, July 21 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today urged the Centre to accord mega project status benefits to the Bellary thermal power project.

Addressing a national seminar on power here, he said ''I would request the Union Power Minister to take a balanced view on the subject and consider the State's request to extend tax benefits.'' The concept of mega projects had been mooted by the Centre and it had identified five locations in the country, he said.

With the open access provisions coming into effect, it had become necessary for States to share power during times of surplus with those in distress and the Bellary plant would also support the national grid in times of need, Mr Kumaraswamy said.

The Chief Minister appealed to the Centre to allocate gas for the Bidadi project so that 1,400 MW of power could be produced, besides the assured supply of coal to the State for thermal power generation. ''If new blocks are given, I assure that we will start work on at least 3,000 MW of power,'' he added.

To meet the shortage of 3,775 MW of power in the coming years, the State had taken all measures and a detailed project report was under preparation. ''KPCL has adopted the Vision Statement 2025 and we have plans to develop a few more sites throughout the State and look at the prospect of going in for super critical boilers in the new locations,'' he said.

The first 500 MW unit in Bellary would be commissioned by September and pump power to the grid this financial year. Work on the 500 MW second unit in Bellary was progressing faster than expected, he said.

Power Finance Corporation Chairman V K Garg said the State would be provided with Rs 30,000 crore in the 11th five-year plan and Rs 45,000 crore in the 12th plan for taking up power projects.

UNI