The State government has decided to convey its reservations against the Union Power Ministry’s decision to keep on hold the work on the second phase of the assured 4,000 MW super thermal power project at Ramagundam by the NTPC.
The issue would be among the concerns to be conveyed to the Central government during the meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee headed by former Minister P. Chidambaram slated for August 10. The development comes at a time when the State became the first in the country to offer 24-hour power supply to farm sector while the demand from the other sectors too was growing due to the growth witnessed in core sectors.
The State had entered into long-term power purchase agreement with neighbouring Chhattisgarh to meet the requirements and simultaneously launched work on major thermal power projects like Yadadri.
The Ministry, in its affidavit filed before the Supreme Court in the case relating to implementation of the promises made during bifurcation of the erstwhile united State, said phase I of the project (2X800 MW) was being set up in the available land in NTPC’s existing Ramagundam thermal power station.
“The revised layout for phase II has been finalised and coal linkages too were set up for the project through Mandakini - B coal mine in Odisha, but the work on the second phase was not being taken up due to lack of demand for power in Telangana”.
Senior officials expressed concern over the Union Ministry’s claims relating to stoppage of the work on the 2,400 MW Phase II of the project assured to the State in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.
They said the Union Ministry had in fact requested to allot 400 acre more for the Phase II of the project and the proposal was under consideration.
“They have not written anything to us in this context,” Transco Chairman and Managing Director D. Prabhakar Rao said.
