MANNAVARAM: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday stressed on the need for bridging the gap between the supply and demand for power to enable the country achieve a higher rate of economic growth on a sustainable basis.
He was speaking after laying the much- postponed foundation for Rs.6,000-crore NTPC-Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited's (BHEL) power equipment manufacturing plant here, 60 km from Tirupati.
This is the largest public undertaking that Andhra Pradesh has got three decades after the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, amidst stiff competition from various States.
Chief Minister K. Rosaiah could not make it to the event as he was indisposed.
During a day-long visit to the Chittoor district, Dr. Singh also laid the foundation for the Tirupati International Airport at Renigunta and, in between, offered prayers at the Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirumala
The joint venture, christened NTPC-BHEL Power Projects Limited (NBPPL), will manufacture and supply power equipment such as turbines, boilers and generators required for additional capacity of 5,000 MW per year by 2014-15. It is expected to provide direct employment to 6,000 people and indirect employment to 25,000 more through a host of ancillaries.
Dr. Singh said that availability of affordable power was of critical importance for country's development. The Central government has drawn up an ambitious programme for addition of power generation capacity in the 11th and 12th Five-Year Plans. Such a large addition meant a much larger demand for power equipment.
“I am happy that our public sector has come forward to take the lead in manufacturing such equipment in the country to help achieve our targets in the power sector. The two Navaratna companies have joined hands to form a new company, thus bringing together their vast experience and expertise.”
Praising the former Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, for his untiring efforts to bring the project to the Chittoor district, the Prime Minister said that the project exemplified the importance of coordination between the Central and State governments.
Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde spoke of a plan to increase the power generation three times, to 68,000 MW, than what was achieved in 10th Plan. Last year alone saw generation of 9,588 MW.
Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Union Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Arun Yadav, Union Minister of State for Power Bharatsinh Solanki and Andhra Pradesh Minister for Major Industries Kanna Laxminarayana, were also present.
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