Gujarat lobbying for AP’s NTPC-BHEL Power Projects Limited

Tirupati: The Andhra Pradesh may lose the NTPC-BHEL Power Projects Limited (NBPPL) to BJP-ruled Gujarat. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid a foundation stone for the NBPPL at Mannavaram on September 1, 2010. Rs 12,000 crore mega project was completely neglected in the BJP-led NDA government.

So far, the NTPC and BHEL have jointly spent Rs 100 crore from the total of Rs 6,000 crore investment in the first phase. The plant was proposed to start commercial production in mid-2015. There was no progress in the construction of plant as it was neglected by the present central government. 

According to reliable information, a team of high-level engineers sent a confidential report to Delhi that Mannavaram location was not suitable to manufacture equipment for the power generation plants as the NBPPL has to depend on the Chennai-based industries for accessory parts.

While laying foundation to the NBPPL, the state government assured the NTPC-BHEL to start the auxiliary units near Mannavaram Plant for manufacturing accessory parts. But, it did not come into reality. Taking advantage of the confidential report, a section of politicians from Gujarat are trying to shift the NBPPL from AP to their state.

The then Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and former Congress MP Dr Chinta Mohan were instrumental in bringing the project to the state amidst stiff competition from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. There was no progress in the project work after sudden demise of Rajasekhara Reddy in 2009.

At the time of sanctioning the NBPPL to Andhra Pradesh, the UPA government promised to create 6,000 direct and 25,000 indirect jobs. In this context, the Left parties have been organising awareness meetings among the public against the shifting of the NBPPL to Gujarat.

They are conducting ‘Kala Jathas’ in the villages located near Mannavaram Plant of Srikalahasti rural mandal in Chittoor district. Speaking to The Hans India, Chinta Mohan said the BJP-led NDA government was not showing interest to develop the NBPPL.