Collector ropes in NTTPS for Pushkaralu works

Gets `5.44 crore from CSR funds

Vijayawada: Krishna District Collector Babu Ahmad has roped in the Genco unit here to spend money for the impending Krishna Pushkaralu, scheduled to begin from August 12.

The officials who are working round-the-clock to make arrangements for the Pushkaralu have made the prestigious Dr Narla Tatarao Thermal Power Station (NTTPS) to spend Rs 5,44,25,000 from its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds for the event.

The District Collector approved the proposal on May 9, asking the NTTPS to spend Rs 2,79,25,000 from the CSR share of the first four units of the NTTPS. The NTTPS would spend Rs 2.75 crore for construction of a bridge across a canal near Gollapudi. It would also spend Rs 4.25 lakh from the CSR to provide a retaining wall at a foot bridge near Gollapudi.

In addition to this, the Collector has also made the NTTPS to spend another Rs 2.65 crore from the CSR funds of the proposed fifth unit of the plant. The NTTPS would use this money to widen the road from the Power House to the Police Station at Ibrahimpatnam.

This is the highest ever spending by the NTTPS under its CSR to benefit the villages. The NTTPS has been washing off its hands by providing some drinking water taps or couple of health camps and a few dozens of saplings though the residents of the area have been asking for support.

The high ash content, which is around 40 to 45 per cent per tonne as against 16 per cent in the imported coal, causes heavy damage to the health and properties of the people living in the villages. They have held protests several times including at the public hearing held in January 2015 for the proposed State V, which is the biggest in the plant.