Latest news with #KPCL
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Andhra Pradesh government accords approvals to a slew of projects
VIJAYAWADA: The State government on Friday accorded approvals to a slew of industries. Among those are Krishnapatnam Power Corporation Limited (KPCL), which is set to establish a 350 MW Solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Thamminapatnam and Mommidi villages of SPSR Nellore district with a Rs 1,225 crore investment, creating 575 jobs. Furthermore, the government also waived off a Rs 54 crore extension of time fee, contingent on project completion within two years as per the Andhra Pradesh Integrated Clean Energy Policy-2024. The government also allocated 22.80 acres at MPSEZ in Naidupeta at Rs 50 lakh per acre to Sangam Milk Producer Company Limited to set up a milk and cultured products manufacturing unit with an investment of Rs 112 crore. The project is expected to generate 400 jobs. GINFRA Precisions Private Limited secured 121.53 acres in Thimmasamudram of Anantapur district at Rs 8.30 lakh per acre for a Bi-Modular Charge Systems (BMCS) unit for 155 mm artillery guns. The Rs 1,150 crore project, expected to employ 299 people, must meet phase-I obligations within 14 months. Raymond Group will invest Rs 1,201.95 crore to establish textile, auto-component, and aerospace manufacturing facilities in Sri Satya Sai District, creating 6,571 jobs. The projects, located in Raptadu, Gudipalli, and Tekulodu, will receive tailored incentives, including land allocation, capital subsidies, and power tariff reimbursements, to foster industrial development.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Completely untrue: Kantara team dismisses reports of boat capsizing during shooting
Speculation ran rampant online after reports on Sunday claimed that a boat carrying actor-director Rishab Shetty and 20 crew members of Kantara: Chapter 1 had capsized during a shoot at the Mani Dam backwaters. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Now, the executive producer of the film, Adarsh JA has clarified that no such incident occurred. 'Contrary to reports, no boat capsized on our set. The team is currently shooting in the backwaters of the Mani Reservoir at Mastikatte, where a large boat has been erected as a backdrop. Due to the monsoon winds, the structure toppled. But no one was on it at the time — the cast and crew were filming in the foreground. There was no water sequence involved at all,' he said. Stop linking every rumour to Kantara 2' Dismissing claims that Rishab Shetty, cinematographer Aravind Kashyap, and others had to swim to safety, he noted, 'That's completely untrue. While we didn't film in the water, we still took every precaution, securing all necessary permissions from the forest department, local police, KPCL (Karnataka Power Corporation Limited), and the panchayat. Speed boats, life jackets, and trained swimmers were also on standby,' he stated. He further urged people to 'stop linking every rumour to Kantara: Chapter 1'. 'We are working hard to deliver the best cinematic experience to audiences. We request everyone to allow the team to work without distraction,' he added.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Rains disrupt shooting of Kantara Chapter 1 in Hosanagara
Heavy rains lashing parts of Hosanagara taluk disrupted the shooting of the movie – Kantara Chapter 1, directed by Rishab Shetty, at the backwaters of Mani dam, built across Varahi river, on Saturday. According to the production company, a part of the film set collapsed in the backwater on the day. 'We had a setting of a ship in the backdrop, and the set toppled in the high-speed winds on Saturday. However, our crew and technical team were quite far from the waterbody. Nobody was hurt. We resumed the shooting on Sunday as per the schedule,' said Adarsh, executive producer of Hombale Films. Mr. Adarsh said the production company had taken permission from the police, forest officials, Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL) and the local panchayat for the shooting, and that the production team made all arrangements for the safety of the crew.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Western Ghats under direct threat from Sharavathi project: Report
Western Ghats Karnataka Power Corporation Limited Lion-Tailed Macaque biodiversity conservation environmental clearance Varahi Pumped Storage Project A report from a city-based non-governmental organisation has highlighted that legally protected wildlife sanctuaries in theare under direct threat from various projects, especially the Sharavathi Pumped Storage to the report by Mapping Malnad, the's (KPCL) Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project is advancing based on 'inadequate, misleading, and flawed data,' raising significant environmental and legal concerns. The project, which proposes to divert 279 acres of dense evergreen and semi-evergreen forests in the Sharavathi(LTM) Wildlife Sanctuary, has already been approved by the State Wildlife Board and the Karnataka government. It now awaits Stage-I approval from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).'This project will create a system that consumes eight hours of coal-powered energy to generate just six hours of hydropower. It is fundamentally inefficient and results in a net energy loss,' said Nirmala Gowda, founder of Mapping Malnad. 'More critically, it opens up dense evergreen forests—vital carbon sinks and turns them into carbon sources.'The report argues that the project, while marketed as a green initiative to stabilise the power grid, is actually a setback to climate goals and. It also warns that the project'shas been obtained by misrepresenting forest land use. KPCL claimed a requirement of 39.79 hectares in its application, but clearance was granted for 54.155 hectares. As per the Forest (Conservation) Rules, any diversion above 50 hectares necessitates a Biodiversity Impact Assessment—one that KPCL successfully avoided through while KPCL claimed only 20 trees would be felled, Mapping Malnad estimates the true number at over 16,000, including massive girth evergreen trees. The project also involves the use of 18,000 tons of industrial explosives and will generate approximately 14.49 lakh cubic metres of excavated muck adding to the environmental sanctuary is a crucial habitat for numerous endangered species, particularly the Lion-tailed Macaque, a primate found only in the Western Ghats. The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 allows diversions within sanctuaries only if they are in the interest of wildlife, a standard that, the report argues, this project fails to said that project documents submitted to authorities contain misinformation and key omissions that compromise the integrity of the clearance process. The project has also been fragmented into smaller components, which environmentalists say is a tactic used to bypass comprehensive review of its ecological the Sharavathi project is not an isolated case. The report flags that the proposedwill require about 612 acres from the Someshwara and Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuaries. It warns that the approvals granted so far are setting a dangerous precedent, with at least 11 more such projects potentially targeting protected areas across the Western Ghats.'No hydroelectric project that clears 279 acres of evergreen habitat, fells nearly 15,000 trees, and disrupts a fragile forest ecosystem can credibly claim to be in the interest of wildlife,' Gowda said. 'Yet, the Karnataka government has greenlit it.'The report was developed in consultation with grassroots activists and reflects growing citizen concern over weakening environmental governance. Gowda called for the immediate establishment of a 'Western Ghats Ecology Authority' to strengthen protections and ensure accountability.'These forests are not just ecological treasures—they are also Bengaluru's most vital water infrastructure,' she said. 'We hope the authorities will reconsider this project in light of the facts. It simply doesn't make sense.'
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Quality testing of ash from Bidadi plant under way; to be used in making construction materials
Around 10,621 tonnes of ash has been generated at the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited's (KPCL) first of its kind waste-to-energy (WtE) plant in Bidadi until the end of April. While this ash, which remains after the incineration of waste for energy is being disposed of into landfills so far, the KPCL plans to generate some revenue by selling this ash to cement factories. Among the ash generated at the plant, 9,214 tonnes have been categorised as bottom ash, which is collected, and 1,407 tonnes have been categorised as fly ash, which is released into the atmosphere after treatment. The ash generated in coal plants is generally used in cement factories. Now, tests are being conducted to find out if the ash from the WtE plant can be used for the same purpose. A sample of ash from the plant is being tested by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to analyse if its quality is suitable for being used in the making of construction materials. 'The sample has been taken by the IISc team. If the quality is equivalent to that of coal ash, then it can be used by cement factories,' said Satish Kumar H., executive engineer (Bidadi), KPC Gas Power Corporation Limited. Ever since the plant was commissioned, residents nearby and others have raised concerns about the hazardous nature of the ash, especially fly ash. Clarifying on this, Mr. Kumar said: 'In the evaporation cooler of the plant, we douse the ash with lime, ammonia, and activated carbon. All the gases that are hazardous to the atmosphere are nullified in this process. The officials from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently visited and checked all the parameters and confirmed it was not hazardous.' A scientist from IISc said that the testing is still in the initial stage. 'We have collected the sample as part of a systematic study of technologies like the WtE in Bidadi across India. We will explore how the ash can be used through the study,' said Prakash Singh, from the Centre for Sustainable Technologies, IISc. Logistics a challenge Gaurav Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary, Energy Department and the managing director of KPCL, said that while the testing is under way, the logistics for the transportation of the ash is yet to be figured out. 'There are no cement factories in the southern parts of the State, and we might have to incur a substantial cost to transport the ash to the factories, which are far. We are exploring options for the same without incurring financial strain,' Mr. Gupta said. For now, the bottom ash is being disposed of in landfills by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), in association with whom the plant has been set up.
