Bijapur Dist selected for Ultra Power project: Eswarappa

Bangalore, Sep 15 (UNI) A Central study team has selected two sites in Bijapur district of Karnataka for the proposed 4,000 MW Ultra Power Project, Power Minister K S Eshwarappa said today.

Addressing newspersons here, he said team members of the Union Power Ministry had recently visited Kudagi and Mannu in Bijapur district and reportedly recommended for the sanctioning of the project.

Asked about the controversial Tadadi Thermal Power project, opposed by environmental groups and supported by heads of two religious institutions, he said the government has not shelved the project.

The government will clear the doubts about the impact on environmental and hold talks with all concerned before taking a final decision, '' he clarified.

Expressing confidence that the proposed project would be more feasible as it was closely situated near the Goa port, he said the Goan government, which was expanding the Panaji port has agreed to Karnataka's request to provide access for handling more than 40,000 tonnes of coal to be transported to power project.

He said the state government has agreed to provide four tmc of water to the project from Alamatti reservoir.

''I would lead a high-level official team to New Delhi shortly to push for the proposed Ultra Power Project,'' he said.

Referring to the proposed Chamalapur project in Mysore, which has drawn protest from various environmental groups and political parties, Mr Eswarappa clarified that government will not impose the project forcefully.

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