Centre asked to set up UMPP in D-K district

Chief minister Jagadish Shettar has written to Union power minister to consider setting a UMPP in Karnataka

Karnataka has sought to push the Centre to set up an Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) in the coastal Dakshina Kannada district.

In a letter to Union Minister of State for Power, Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar noted that a team of officers visited four potential sites identified by Central Mine Planning & Design Institute (CMPDI) for setting up thermal power plants in coastal region of the state last year.

The officers were from Central Electricity Authority (CEA), CMPDI, Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL), Karnataka Port and Inland Water Transport Department, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, Power Company of Karnataka Ltd (PCKL) and Revenue Department.

The CEA had informed Ranchi-based CMPDI, who were rendering consultancy services for identification of potential sites for coal-based thermal power station in Karnataka, that all the four sites proposed by it at Shiroor, Honnavar, Divgi and Kanchanbahal, based on remote sensing technique are not found suitable for setting up a coal-based UMPP.

The CMPDI has opined that taking into account the parameters laid down for locating the site for UMPP in coastal zone of Karnataka, two sites — Divgi and Honnavar — could be possibly considered for examination, Shettar said. Further, a team of officers from PCKL along with officials from Karnataka Udyog Mitra/Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board, Mangalore, carried out site inspection in and around the coastal areas of the state to identify a suitable land for development of UMPP project under case-2 bidding guidelines of Ministry of Power.

“The team has identified a suitable site in Niddodi village of Mangalore taluk, Dakshina Kannada district as suitable,” the Chief Minister said, requesting the Power Ministry to take further action as desired for setting up an UMPP in the state.