The Chairman and Managing Director of BHEL, B.Prasada Rao, visited the Thirumayam plant on Monday to review arrangements for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit early next month for the formal inauguration of the unit.
Accompanied by the Executive Director of BHEL Tiruchi A.V.Krishnan and other senior officials, Mr. Prasada Rao inspected the conveniences being created for the Prime Minister's visit. A location in the vicinity of the industry has been identified for the construction of a helipad, according to police sources.
Officials said the Prime Minister would inaugurate the plant in the presence of the Minister for Heavy Industries Praful Patel, the Union Finance Minister P.Chidambaram, and other dignitaries. Mr.Chidambaram was instrumental in getting the industry started in Thirumayam. He laid the foundation stone in 2009. Trial production at the unit commenced early last year.
The plant has been designed for an output of 15,000 tonnes involving Rs.500 crore turnover. The BHEL has invested Rs.350 crore for the plant: Rs.100 crore for civil work and Rs.250 crore for machinery.
According to BHEL sources, the Maharatna PSU has been requesting the State government for sanctioning additional land for expansion of the Thirumayam facility that manufactures power plant piping products, and another land parcel of 40 to 60 acres for developing a township at a proximate distance for the over 700 employees.
For the employees who are now commuting to Thirumayam plant that is located equidistant from Pudukottai and Karaikudi in the neighbouring Sivaganga district, a residential township with schools, hospitals, and recreational facilities and other conveniences is a dire requirement.
For starting the Tiruchi plant, the then Chief Minister K. Kamaraj had sanctioned thousands of acres of land at Kailasapuram.
In neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, the State government there had provided over 750 acres of land at Mannavaram village near Srikalahasti in Chittoor district for the Rs. 6,000-crore joint venture project of BHEL and National Thermal Power Corporation to manufacture power plant equipment. Likewise, in Maharashtra, the government there has provided sufficient land for the new power equipment fabrication plant at Bhandara, sources said.
