PM to lay foundation stone of NTPC-BHEL plant

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will lay the foundation stone for the Rs 6,000-crore NTPC-BHEL power plant equipment manufacturing facility at Mannavaram in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh on September 5.

The PM will tour the state for two days beginning September 5 after his arrival at the temple town of Tirupati, according to Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.        

Reddy had announced in June that foundation stone for the NTPC-BHEL joint venture unit near Srikalahasthi town would be laid by Singh in the first week of July, but with the Rajasthan government too throwing in the hat for the project, the PM reportedly held back the administrative approval.

 

The Andhra Chief Minister, however, continued his efforts and prevailed upon both Manmohan Singh as well as Sonia Gandhi for securing the project to the state.

The state government, in fact, allotted 750 acres of land at Mannavaram for the project at a nominal price of Rs 100 per acre as it would provide direct employment to 6,000 persons besides indirect employment to over 25,000 persons.

Reddy took up the issue once again with the PMO officials yesterday and requested them to ensure that the relevant file is cleared ahead of the PM's visit to the state.

Singh will arrive in Tirupati at 4 pm on September 5 and hold a high-level review meeting on ongoing development projects and implementation of various government schemes in the state. He will later proceed to the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala for an overnight stay. 

On September 6, Manmohan Singh will have a special darshan of the Lord and offer prayers.

At 9.30 am he will return to Tirupati and fly by helicopter to Srikalahasti for laying foundation-stone for the proposed NTPC-BHEL unit. From there he will fly to Kadapa town and lay the foundation-stone for the airport revival project and address a public meeting.

The Prime Minister will return to Tirupati in the afternoon and lay the foundation-stone for an international airport in the temple town. He will also address a public meeting on the occasion. Manmohan Singh will fly back to New Delhi at 6 pm on September 6, Reddy said.

The state government has also come forward to provide required infrastructure for the unit like water supply, power and roads as per the Industrial Investment Promotion Policy for mega projects.