Kudagi Plant: Farmers' sacrifice remembered

BIJAPUR: Minister for major and medium industries Murugesh Nirani said the Kudagi super thermal power plant (KSTPP) would be a boon not only to the people of North Karnataka but for the country as it would open the floodgates of opportunities in various forms. Speaking to TOI on the eve of the foundation laying ceremony for the Kudagi super thermal plant here he said the sacrifice of the farmers who have given up their lands for the project was highly appreciable and the government would remember it.He said the KSTPP would be an environment-friendly plant and people need not be worried over rumours of damage to the environment. The project when commissioned will boost various economic activities in Bijapur, Bagalkot and other districts and generate employment.Nirani said many national and multinational companies had expressed their desire to invest in projects to be set up in North Karnataka during the Global Investors Meet and providing power generation plant at Kudagi was fulfillment of the commitment on the part of the government. "This is an alternative to the Centre's ultra mega power project and will benefit the region to a great extent" Nirani said.Power for Souther States An MoU was signed by the government of Karnataka, power company of Karnataka Ltd, and NTPC in January 2009, for setting up the project with an ultimate capacity of 4000 MW (stage I three units of 800 MW each and stage II 2 units of 800 MW each). The Union ministry of environment and forests accorded environmental clearance for the first stage of project (3x800 MW) on January 25, 2012. The NTPC placed the main equipment orders worth over Rs 6,087 crore for three units for this project on Feb 17. The total estimated investment of the project (Stage I 3x800 MW) is Rs 15,166 crore.The power to be generated from this project will be mainly allotted to all the southern states. According to NTPC sources, the first stage work will be completed within 52 months. Nearly 3,000 acres of land is required for the project, out of which already 1,903 acres of land, essential for the main plant, has been handed over to the KIDB. The land acquisition process for the remaining is still going on.