Bangalore: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has said that the State Government is firm on implementing the 4000 MW Tadari thermal project and scotched all reports expressing doubts over it.

He was speaking to presspersons after laying the foundation stone for the Light Museum at Hoody near here on Monday.

"The Government will take steps to ensure that the project is implemented at all costs. We will make sure that those displaced by the project are rehabilitated," he said.

Regarding the environmentalists opposing the project, the Chief Minister said he would visit Tadari and interact with the all religious heads, environmentalists and local people next week. "I will talk to them and sort out their apprehensions, if any. In any case, I will make sure that the project is implemented," he said.

Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said that he was pleased that the State Government had evinced interest to implement the thermal project. "I have not withdrawn the project. It is for the State Government to evince interest. I am all for enhancing power generation, as the demand for power is increasing," he said.

The Union Minister also said that the Chief Minister had submitted a proposal urging the Union Government to declare Shivanasamudram, where the first power generating station was set up, as a `National Heritage Centre'. "I have been informed that the generating station was set by the then Dewan of Mysore Sir K. Seshadri Iyer over a century ago. The station should be declared as a heritage centre, because it is the first hydro electric station in the country," he said (Mr. Shinde wrongly mentioned the name of Sir M. Visvesvaraya as the one responsible for commissioning the Shivanasamudra project).

Tourist centre

Mr. Shinde also said Shivanasamudram would be developed as a heritage and tourist centre. "All the generating stations that are over a 100 years old will be declared as heritage centres," he added.

The Union Minister also said that Shivanasamudram was set up because the then Dewan was patronised by the Maharaja of Mysore.

"If any young scientist has such revolutionary ideas, it is the duty of the Union and State Governments to extend all the possible help," he said.

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