Decks cleared for 4,000 MW NTPC plant near Vizag: Ganta

Visakhapatnam: The decks are cleared for the 4000 MW NTPC power plant with an investment of Rs.20, 000 crore at Pudimadaka, about 50 km from here. Informing this to mediapersons here on Wednesday, Minister for Human Resource Development Ganta Srinivasa Rao said the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had held talks with Union Power Minister on the project. About 1,200 acres of land had also been identified and it would be handed over to the NTPC shortly.

"The Chief Minister has given top priority to 24x7 power supply for all and the project is part of it. The advantage is that 85 per cent of the power to be generated in the plant will be allocated to the State. Also solar power plants to generate 2,500 MW would be set up in Kadapa, Kurnool and Anantapur, he said. A decision to this effect was taken on Tuesday and land is also being earmarked for the projects he said.

Srinivasa Rao said a skill development centre (SDC) would be set up in Viakhapatnam in view of several new industries coming up. Whenever new industries were set up, the local people cannot get jobs in them because of lack of skills. The skill development centre was intended to promote skills among the local people, so that new industries can absorb them. The funds accrued from Corporate Social Responsibility scheme (CSR) would be utilised to set up the SDC either at Andhra University or Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. If necessary, the services of organisations like Sudha Foundation would be requisitioned, he revealed.

He also said plans were afoot for building international airport as present airport was under the control of the Indian Navy. A site in Bhogapuram between Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram was found ideal for international airport.