NALGONDA/HYDERABAD: The state government has decided to set up thermal power plants to generate 7,600 MW power in Damaracharla mandal in Nalgonda district. Of the 7,600 MW, the NTPC has proposed to generate 2,400 MW and the remaining 5,200 MW by TSGenco. These plants will come up at Veerlapalem and Dilawarpur.
Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who conducted an aerial survey over the reserve forest area of Damaracharla and Mattampally mandals, reviewed with the officials on availability of land and other issues at Veerlapalem village. He also went round the open spaces at Veerlapalem village.
Later in the evening, he held a review meeting with officials and ministers. During the meeting, he said NTPC is scheduled to generate 4,000 MW power in the state. At Ramagundam, it was proposed to generate 1,600 MW for which the construction of a plant is underway. A plant to generate the remaining 2,400 MW would be set up at Damaracharla and the chief minister has decided to hand over land for the same.
Similarly, the government has decided to generate 6,000 MW power through TS Genco. As part of this, the BHEL is constructing four units with 270 MW each (total 1,080 MW) at Manuguru in Khammam district and this will start generation in the next two years.Damaracharla lands would be suitable for setting up the 5,000 MW plant.
“It was decided to set up five units each with 800 MW capacity (total 4,000 MW) and two units with 600 MW in Damaracharla mandal,” an official release said.
The CM learnt that 7,800 acre was available on one side of river Krishna which would be suitable for thermal power plants. He called up Union environment minister Prakash Javdekar and told him that they would give the forests department the same extent of land that it takes for setting up the plant. Rao asked the Union minister to give permissions for the same at the earliest. “The Union Minister had responded positively,’’ the release said adding that Javdekar assured to give required permission.