GOOD BEGINNING: Thomas J. Wilson, director, McNamara International Private Limited, presenting a shawl to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi before signing a memorandum of understanding on a port project with the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board, at the Secretar iat on Wednesday. Arcot N. Veerasamy, Electricity Minister, is in the picture. — Photo: V. Ganesan

CHENNAI: A Rs. 750-crore captive port and a Rs.10,000-crore thermal power plant have been proposed near Tirukuvalai, native place of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, in Nagapattinam district.

While the port, to come up at Vettaikaran Iruppu village, will have capacity to handle 20-40 million tonnes of coal, the site of the 2,000 MW power plant is located between Karapidagai and Kilapidagai villages. Both will set up by McNamara International Private Limited, Ireland.

Tamil Nadu Maritime Board Chief Executive Officer P.R. Shampath and Mcnamara director Thomas J. Wilson on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding to set up the captive port, at the Secretariat. Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi, Electricity Minister Arcot N. Veerasamy, Highways Minister M.P. Saminathan, Chief Secretary L.K. Tripathy and the Highways Secretary K. Allaudin were present.

Last month, the Board had given in-principle approval to the company for preparing a detailed project report for the port project.

The company indicated it would implement the project in three years. It would provide direct employment to 2,000 persons and indirect employment to 5,000 persons, according to an official release.

Centre's nod sought

To a query on the permissibility of the power project proposed through the MoU route, Mr. Veerasamy told The Hindu , "We have requested the Government of India to give permission."

In the event approval not being given, the project would come under the merchant power plant scheme. It would use imported coal.

The Minister said it was planned to have one more power plant, with a capacity of 4,000 MW, in Nagapattinam district.

The NTPC (formerly National Thermal Power Corporation) would set it up.

Mr. Shampath said this was the first captive port project sanctioned by the Government after assumption of office.

Eight captive port projects had been sanctioned.

Mega power project

Asked whether the State had sought any change of site for the proposed ultra mega power project, Mr. Veerasamy said the matter was being discussed with the Centre. [The Central Electricity Authority had indicated its preference for a cluster of villages on the southern outskirts of Chennai].

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