The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Narla Tata Rao’s services recalled

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Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Narla Tata Rao’s services recalled

IBRAHIMPATNAM: The contribution of Dr. Narla Tata Rao to the development of power sector in the country was recalled by several speakers on Tuesday on the occasion of the unveiling of a statue of Dr. Tata Rao and the laying of a foundation stone for a 125-MW Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) plant at the Vijayawada Thermal Power Station here, which has been renamed Dr. Narla Tata Rao Thermal Power Station.

Describing Mr. Tata Rao as “Bhishma Pitamaha” of power sector in the country, Union Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh recalled his first meeting with Mr. Tata Rao in 1983 during a meeting of chairpersons of state electricity boards.

“When every chairperson of the electricity board criticised the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Dr. Tata Rao rose and told them point blank that they were all vultures who were out to destroy the BHEL. He told them, ‘I’m running VTPS with a plant load factor of 95 per cent with the technology supplied by the BHEL. You can also do the same.’ He was a strong champion of not just the BHEL, but the Indian power sector as a whole, and he believed that India could become a world leader in nuclear energy too,” Mr. Ramesh said.

Statue unveiled

The Minister said Dr. Tata Rao had the unique distinction of being “the father of two electricity boards” in the country, which no other engineer could achieve. Besides the Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board, he also helped set up the Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board. “Though he was given only Padma Sri, I strongly believe he deserved Padma Vibhushan,” Mr. Ramesh remarked.

The Minister earlier interacted with the family members of Dr. Tata Rao, including his son Narla Gangadhara Rao, daughter Y. Janaki and niece Kolli Sarada.

Dr. Tata Rao’s statue, which was unveiled on the occasion, was garlanded by Mr. Ramesh, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India R. Chidambaram and Finance Minister K. Rosaiah.

‘A visionary’

Mr. Rosaiah said Dr. Tata Rao’s vision in setting up several power plants under the aegis of the APSEB helped the State become a power-surplus State till 1983. “But, unfortunately, successive governments have shown more interest in encouraging power plants in private sector, which led to unnecessary burden,” he said.

Minister for Power and Coal Mohammad Ali Shabbir said the State was currently facing some difficulties on the power front, as power was not available for buying even when the Government was ready to pay a higher price. Still, the Government was purchasing power worth Rs.7 crores a day to save the farmers.

AP Genco Chairman S.V. Prasad and Managing Director Ajay Jain were present along with MPs, MLAs and other local representatives.

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