The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Karnataka team gives clean chit to hydel project

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 26, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Karnataka team gives clean chit to hydel project

Special Correspondent

Orissa's nod for Machkund unit modernisation

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh has achieved a breakthrough in getting obstacles cleared from Karnataka and Orissa over two power projects. This comes as a relief given the controversies raging these days on such inter-state projects.

A Karnataka official team has given a clean chit without raising any objection to the hydel project under construction based on Jurala project in Mahabubnagar district. This impression was conveyed after a visit to the site on Sunday by the team, led by S. S. Sivamallu, Director (transmission), Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation. Officials from the APGenco, headed by G. Adiseshu, Director (hydel), showed to the Karnataka team the various components of the 234-MW inter-state project which would use the Krishna waters and give 50 per cent of the power generated to Karnataka for sale under an agreement. The team was stated to have expressed `satisfaction' at the progress of works and the water utilisation planned.

Karnataka originally wanted to share both cost and benefit of the project to the tune of 50 per cent. The plan was later changed so that Andhra Pradesh would be the owner bearing the entire cost (Rs. 547 crores) and earmarking half of the output for sale to Karnataka. This change was opted in view of problems foreseen regarding recruitment to post personnel at the site from both States.

The plant is being executed by the CMEC of China while civil works are being implemented by M/s. L & T.

The second breakthrough is that Orissa has agreed on Andhra Pradesh proposal to modernise the Machkund hydel project at a cost of Rs. 125 crores. This followed discussions by State officials, led by the Principal Secretary, Energy, D.K. Panwar, at Bhubaneswar recently with Orissa officials. An APGenco official, who took part in the exercise, however, said, a decision was to be taken on the plea made by Orissa to transfer its quota back to it.

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