Giraye power project is an asset: Rane

State revenue minister Narayan Rane has taken the lead in initiating a dialogue with the villagers from Giraye and Sindhudurg district, who are opposed to the 4,000-Mw power project at Giraye.

The villagers fear that the project would affect the local mango orchards, which are famous for Alphonso mangoes, and also their fishing business.

A meeting of senior officials with the villagers was organised at Rane's chamber in Mantralya on Tuesday. It was attended by Power Finance Corporation's (PFC) general manager A K Jain, state energy secretary Jayant Kawale and other senior state government officials.

Speaking at the meeting, Jain said since the plant was based on imported coal, which has high-calorific value, smoke emission from the plant would be minimal. He assured that all modern anti-pollution technology would be used to ensure minimum smoke emission and effluent discharged from the power plant.

The ash produced after burning of coal is now being used in producing concrete blocks and bricks to lighten the weight and increase the strength of construction material, Jain said, adding local youths could start factories to produce construction material from the ash.

"The project would provide direct and indirect employment to more than 5,000 people and most of the jobs can go to local youths," said Kawale

Urging villagers to look at the positive side of the project, Rane said, "since this plant would not affect the local mango orchards and fishing business, they should give up their opposition and try to get maximum benefit from it."

Of late, a lot of industrial activity has been taking place in Kokan, besides tourism and infrastructure development and to sustain the developmental activity one needs power, Rane pointed out.