Stalemate is continuing over the proposed expansion of the 2,600-MW NTPC Ramagundam power station by an additional 4,000 MW capacity, as the State government is planning to choose Nalgonda district to set up new thermal power projects.
As per the Andhra Pradesh States Reorganisation Bill, the Union government had announced the generation of 4,000 MW by the NTPC to provide power to Telangana State. Accordingly, the NTPC authorities identified sites and prepared detailed project reports. The board of directors of NTPC also approved the feasibility report to start 800x2 (1,600) MW power stations under super critical project scheme. The NTPC is also planning to take up the remaining 2,400 MW of the proposed project at its vicinity and waiting for the State government to allocate a site. The NTPC authorities are making all arrangements for execution of the 800x2 (1,600 MW) project by making coal linkage with the Singareni Collieries Company Limited and other clearances etc.
However, the State government’s decision to select Nalgonda district to generate 7,500 MW of thermal power, including the shifting of proposed 2,400 MW power plant, has become a cause of concern for the NTPC authorities. The government plans to generate 7,500 MW of power under the Greenfield project in Nalgonda district by acquiring land, forest clearances, conducting scientific tests for erection of huge chimneys, water resources, coal linkage and setting up townships etc would boomerang, the NTPC sources said.
The NTPC Ramagundam, which completed 35 years of existence in the district and which is also the largest thermal power station in entire South India, is a Brownfield project and it would be easy for the expansion of the power station when compared to the Greenfield project, they maintained.
“We are asking the State government to provide site for the ash pond. Similarly, we also need additional land for setting up the remaining 2,400 MW of power stations in the vicinity,” they added.
Appealing to the elected representatives of the district to empower the State government for expansion of NTPC, Ramagundam, the officials said, “We are all well-equipped and trained to commission the power stations before the scheduled time if the government allocates land.”
