Manmohan to lay foundation for NTPC-BHEL venture in July

Power plant equipment manufacturing facility to come up in Chittoor district

HYDERABAD: The stage is being set for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to lay the foundation stone for the power plant equipment manufacturing mega facility at Mannavaram village in Srikalahasti mandal of Chittoor district in the first week of July.

The facility, a joint venture of the National Thermal Power Corporation and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, is being set up with a capital outlay of Rs. 6,000 crore and will provide 6,000 jobs directly. With a potential of attracting 400 ancillary units, the project would offer indirect employment to another 30,000 people and the State Cabinet had recently resolved to allot 750 acres of land for setting up the project.

Arrangements reviewed

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy reviewed the arrangements for the Prime Minister’s visit to the State for the first time after the UPA returned to power at the Centre. On the apprehensions expressed by some officials over the bids being forwarded by Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Rajasthan and other States for housing the prestigious unit, Dr. Reddy made it clear that the joint venture, next only to the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant in terms of investment, would not be moved away from the State.

Asserting that the project would be dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, Dr. Reddy said the first phase of the three-phase project would be completed in two years and he would request the management of the BHEL and NTPC to commence work on its construction immediately after the foundation was laid by Dr. Singh.

The Prime Minister, during his day-long visit, would also lay the foundation stone for the Tirupati international airport. The two events, Dr. Reddy said, would be preceded by Dr. Singh’s visit to Tirumala, abode of Lord Venkateswara, as it would augur well for the country and the State.