Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh is aiming to become a power surplus state and a new power plant is expected to serve the power needs of the state soon. Vizag would soon get a new power project. A 3,960 MW coal fired power project is likely to come up in the district.
Hyderabad-based M/s Yeswanth Industrial Infrastructure Projects Pvt. Ltd had submitted a project proposal to MoEF to develop the power project for which Expert Appraisal Committee (Thermal Power) has considered it and asked the project proponent to get the Environ-mental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) done.
Terms of Reference (ToR) in this regard were also issued recently. The coal-fired power plant will come up in three phases - 2x660 MW in each phase at Vempadu, Kagitha, DL Puram and Nellipudi villages in Nakkapalli mandal in an area of 3,248 acres.
The proposed power plant requires coal around 13.59 MT per annum, which will be imported from Indonesia.
Water requirement will be 209,800 m3/day and is proposed to be sourced from the sea through an intake well pipeline at a distance of 3 km from the project site. The ToR of the project, which will be valid for two years from the time of submission of the EIA report, also said that a common Green Endowment Fund should be created by the project proponents out of EMP budgets. The interest earned out of it should be used for the development and management of green cover of the area.
The impact on fisheries at various socio economic level shall also be assessed besides creation of an endowment of Fishermen Welfare Fund out of CSR grants, not only to enhance their quality of life through creation of facilities for fish landing platforms/fishing harbour/cold storage, but also to provide relief in case of emergency situations such as missing of fishermen on duty due to rough seas, tropical cyclones and storms.
The MoEF's ToR said that the environmental clearance for the project would be considered only after a public hearing is held and the objections if any are included in the EIA and EMP reports.
