The first two units of the project should have been fully operational by October 2021, the third and fourth by June 2022, and the fifth by October 2022.
Published Dec 08, 2024 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 08, 2024 | 7:00 AM
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy inaugurated the connection of 800 megawatts unit-2 to the grid on a commercial basis on Saturday, 7 December 2024. (Telangana CMO/X)
After a delay of over seven years, the Yadadri Thermal Power Station (YTPS) at Damaracherla, set up on the banks of the Krishna River in Nalgonda district, is becoming operational.
One of its eight units — Unit II of 400 MW of Phase-I — began producing power for commercial use on Saturday, 7 December, after Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy synchronised the unit with the state grid.
The chief minister, on arrival at Damaracherla, went around a photo exhibition. He performed a puja before inaugurating the unit and synchronising it to the state grid.
The plant’s journey began in 2017, two years after the foundation stone was laid by the then chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao on 8 June 2015 at Veerlapalem village, and was marred by delays. The first two units of the project should have been fully operational by October 2021, the third and fourth by June 2022, and the fifth by October 2022.
Power generation on an experimental basis has been going on in the two units of 800 MW each of the second unit of Phase-I. The first unit is yet to be fully operational. It may take some time before commercial production of power begins.
The total capacity of the coal-fired YTPS is 4000 MW, comprising five units of 800 MW each.
Ever since the YTPS was conceived and grounded, nothing went well for it. The previous BRS government had acquired 4,276 acres for the construction of the plant. The plant was supposed to have been completed in 2021 since the works began in 2017. Afterwards for about three years, the construction took a back seat because of Covid-19.
Other issues that impeded the progress of the YTPS include a delay in getting environmental clearances.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who holds the Energy portfolio, said that the delay in construction had made the state bear an additional burden of ₹9,697 crore. The total estimated investment for the YTPSP is ₹30,000 crore.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
