Govt looking for alternate location for Girye project: CEA

Mumbai, Sep 27 (UNI) The Government is planning to shift the proposed 4,000 MW ultra mega power project at Girye in Maharashtra due to local agitation, stated the Central Electricity Authority Chairperson Rakesh Nath.

Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the annual general meeting of Indian Electrical Equipments Manufacturers' Association (IEEMA) last evening here, Mr Nath said, ''Due to local agitation at Girye against the project, the Government wanted to shift the project at Dighi but the land size was not appropriate there as per the requirement.'' He said the Government is looking for an alternate location for the project and it will be identified soon.

The Girye site in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra was identified on the basis of a report submitted by the National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad in consultation with the State Government for development of an integrated coastal power project of 4,000 MW with the scope of expansion in future.

The project was part of the Central Government's plan for capacity addition of 100,000 MW by the end of the 11th five-year plan to meet its 'Mission of Power to All', Mr Nath added.

According to him, there will be capacity addition of 200,000 MW by the end of 2017. ''About 3 lakh MW power capacity is needed to be added by the end of the 12th five-year plan to keep pace with the proposed economic growth of 8 to 9 per cent per annum,'' he said.

The ultra mega power projects in various states are to be developed with the joint Public Private Participation (PPP) in co-ordination with the Centre and State governments, Mr Nath added.

UNI