The world’s largest ultra mega solar power park to generate 2,500 MW is being established in Andhra Pradesh, Union Minister of Power and Coal, Piyush Goyal announced here on Tuesday.
Speaking at the signing of a joint document between the Government of India and the Andhra Pradesh government to implement ‘Power For All’ (PFA) from October 2, a programme to supply quality power round the clock for domestic and industrial consumers in the State, he termed it “path-breaking.”
Besides the signing of the PFA initiative, a spate of other MoUs were signed in the presence of Mr. Goyal, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Civil Aviation Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju to mark the completion of 100 days in office by the Telugu Desam government. In all, the State government inked 10 MoUs and the total investment from NTPC, DRDO, Hero Motor Corporation and others would be over Rs.80,000 crore.
The other MoUs included handing over of 1,200 acres by APIIC to NTPC to set up of a 4,000 MW super critical ultra mega power project at Pudimadaka in Visakhapatnam district, a 2,500 MW ultra mega solar power project in Kurnool ( 1,000 MW), Kadapa (500 MW) and Anantapur (1,000 MW) districts and a Greenfield plant to produce 1.8 million two-wheelers by Hero Moto Corp Limited in Chittoor district.
Pat for Naidu
Lauding Mr. Naidu for quickly clearing NTPC proposals, he said that Andhra Pradesh would generate 27,000 MW of power by 2019, which would be three times of the present capacity. He suggested to Mr. Naidu to provide some incentive to power consumers who pay their bills through bank accounts.
Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said although PFA would be formally launched from October 2, he said the objective was already achieved. He declared that the State government was determined to reduce transmission and distribution losses to 9 per cent in the State.
He also handed over provisional allotment letter to DRDO for 1,103 acres in Chinnatayyur and Kokkiralakonda villages in Chittoor district for setting up its facility. A letter was given to SAMEER ( Society for Applied Microwave Electromagnetic Engineering & Research, Government of India) allotting 13 acres in Gambheeram village in Visakhapatnam district.
Mr. Ashok Gajapathi Raju said Andhra Pradesh would emerge as a role model for other States in the country in the power sector.
Later Mr. Goyal and Mr. Naidu released English and Telugu versions of a booklet on the achievements of the government in completing 100 days on Tuesday.
