TDP protest over land ''acquisition'' for private power plant

Hyderabad, Mar 25 (UNI) The main opposition Telugu Desam Party(TDP) today registered its protest in the Andhra Pradesh assembly over the Chief Commissioner for Land Acquisition granting advance possession of land to the State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation for a merchant power plant near Machilipatnam.

Dissatisifed with Energy Minister Mohd Ali Shabeer's reply during question hour that no allocation had been made for any private player, TDP Legislature Party Deputy Leader T Devender Goud registered his party's protest over the Government's alleged attempts to give the land to 'Thermal Power Tech Corporation', involving a Union Minister from the State ''through the backdoor''.

Earlier, Legislative Affairs Minister K Rosaiah asked the TDP member D Umamaheswara Rao, who put the question, not to drag the name of a Union Minister in the proceedings, as the latter was not in a position to defend himself in the House.

Recalling that it was the previous TDP Government, which had encouraged power generation in the private sector, ignoring the public sector Generation Corporation(GENCO), Mr Shabeer alleged that the TDP, had given 1100 acres to the Hindujas during its tenure.

The minister said no decision had been taken on the firm's request for allotment of 1200 acre of land for generation 1380 MW power at a cost of Rs 6000 crore.

The Centre had decided to encourge merchant power plants to overcome the power shortage of 78,000 MW in the country and there was no need to seek approval from the State Government to set up plants, he added.

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