Bhimavaram - Vizianagaram - National Highway Proposal

http://www.sakshi.com/news/district/highway-between-bhimavaram-vizianagaram-296800

Canal Top Solar Power Plant - Bhimavaram

Solar Power Plant - Losari Main Canal:

The first canal top solar power plant of Andhra Pradesh has come up on Losari irrigation channel, near Yanamadurru village and 7 km from Bhimavaram town and will soon become operational.

Works on the one mW power plant began two years back across the Losari canal and will supply solar power to about 10 villages in Bhimavaram Mandal.

The construction has been taken up on the retaining walls of eight-meter width Losari canal. The canal-top project is being synchronised with Eastern Power Distribution Company (EPDCL) Limited’s 33/11 KV electrical substation in Gollavanitippa village.

As part of the delta modernisation, the Losari canal has developed from Undi main canal to Losari branch canal. The Losari canal will join the Upputeru near Gollavanitippa village. The retaining walls constructed during modernisation have now been utilised for the setting up of the plant.

The project taken up by NREDCAP was contracted to BHEL.  The 400 kV power generation capacity power panels have been erected so far on a stretch of one km on the canal.  Almost 70 per cent construction works have been completed. 

NREDP District Manager D V Prasad told The Hans India that “The solar power plant is in its final stage. By this month ending the project will be completed”.  He said that so far 40 per cent power has been supplied to the 33/11 KV substation at Gollavanitippa.

“We are planning to open the power plant in the first week of July. Solar power will reduce the burden on the power grid, he added. NREDCAP will get Rs 6.60 per unit through this plant.

Bhimavaram qualified under AMRUT scheme

Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT):

The purpose of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) is to (i) ensure that every household has access to a tap with assured supply of water and a sewerage connection; (ii) increase the amenity value of cities by developing greenery and well maintained open spaces (e.g. parks); and (iii) reduce pollution by switching to public transport or constructing facilities for non-motorized transport (e.g. walking and cycling). All these outcomes are valued by citizens, particularly women, and indicators and standards have been prescribed by the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) in the form of Service Level Benchmarks (SLBs). 

Five hundred cities will be taken up under AMRUT.  The category of cities that will be covered in the AMRUT is given below: i. All Cities and Towns with a population of over one lakh with notified Municipalities, including Cantonment Boards (Civilian areas), ii. All Capital Cities/Towns of States/ UTs, not covered in above , iii. All Cities/ Towns classified as Heritage Cities by MoUD under the HRIDAY Scheme, iv. Thirteen Cities and Towns on the stem of the main rivers with a population above 75,000 and less than 1 lakh, and v. Ten Cities from hill states, islands and tourist destinations (not more than one from each State). 

Cities qualified for AMRUT in Andhra Pradesh and comprehensive plan:

The Andhra Pradesh government has proposed a comprehension action plan under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) for 31 cities and towns of the state at an estimated cost of Rs 28,756.30 crore.

The plan is aimed at ensuring basic infrastructure relating to water supply, sewerage and septage management, drainage, urban transport and green spaces and parks during the next five years in these cities and towns.

An official press release said that, for the current financial year (2015-16), the State Government has sought approval of the Ministry of Urban Development for its State Level Annual Action Plan (SAAP) involving central assistance of Rs. 673.12 crore for water supply projects and development of parks.

The State’s SAAP is based on city level plans formulated after assessing the gaps in basic infrastructure and investments to be made to meet the norms prescribed for urban areas.

The release said the extent of coverage of urban households with water supply connections in AMRUT cities and towns in Andhra Pradesh ranged from 7.50% in Tenali to 78.80% in Rajahmundry. On the whole, 50.22% of all urban households in the Mission cities have water connections at present.

Cities with below 30% coverage include Tenali (7.50%), Madanapalle (20%), Chittor(21%) and Vizianagaram(30%).

Cities with coverage between 31% and 50% include Srikakulam (58%), Bhimavaram(43.60%), Kakinada(49.36%), Vijayawada(48.75%), Gudivada (48%), Machilipatnam(50%), Tirupati(45%), Ongole (49%), Nellore(45%), Proddatur(45%), Tadipatri(42.50%), Hindupur(37%), Guntakal (47%), Anantapur (45%), Kurnool (45.94%) and Adoni (43%).

Cities with coverage between 51% and 75% coverage include Visakhapatnam (61%), Tadepallegudem(57.37%), Eluru (66.31%), Chilakaluripeta (51%), Narsaraopeta (61.46%), Kadapa(52%), Dharmavaram(69%) and Nandyal (50.85%).

Rajahmundry has more 78% of households with water supply connections, the release said.

The per capita water supply ranged from 20 liters per capita per day (lpcd) in Madanapalle to 145 lpcd in Vijayawada as against the norm for urban areas of 135 lpcd. On an average, water supply in AMRUT cities in Andhra Pradesh at present is 104 lpcd.

Cities with water supply of less than 50 lpcd include Madanapalle-20 lpcd, Chittor(48) and Tadipatri (49). Cities with water supply between 50 and 100 lpcd include Vizianagaram (70), Bhimavaram(88), Tadepallegudem(78), Gudivada (95), Machilipatnam (68), Chilakaluripeta(99), Guntur(100), Ongole (88), Proddatur(73), Hindupur(56), Nandyal(73) and Kurnool (80 lpcd).

Cities with water supply between 101 and 134 lpcd include Srikakulam(115 lpcd), Vizag(109), Kakinada (108), Narsaraopeta (126), Tirupati(114), Nellore(126), Kadapa (116), Guntakal(107), Dharmavaram(114), Adoni(104). 

Eluru, Rajahmundry, Tenali, Anantapur (135 lpcd each) and Vijayawada (145 lpcd) are among the cities with water supply of 135 lpcd and more, the release said.

The State Government reported that sewerage network services are available only in six Mission cities. These include: 10% in Guntur, 18% in Proddatur, 19.56% in Vizag, 49% in Kadapa, 70% in Vijayawada and 79% in Tadipatri. It has proposed to bridge the gaps in respect of these infrastructure areas progressively over the next five years.

The State Government projected a cost of Rs. 6,117.24 crore for ensuring universal coverage of urban households in Mission cities in respect of water supply and Rs.10,888 crore for providing sewerage networks and septage management over the next five years.

To provide adequate drainage facilities in the Mission cities in the state, the State Government has proposed construction of outfall drains, major and minor drains besides rejuvenation of existing drains covering a total length of 6,753 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 6,814.85 crore.

Regarding improving urban transport, the State Government has proposed development of 336.50 kms of pathways at a cost of Rs.178.10 crore, 232 km of cycle tracks at a cost of Rs.11.50 crore, 215 kms of BRTS (Bus Rapid Transport Systems) corridors at a cost of Rs.702 crore and procurement of 710 buses at a cost of Rs.376 crore. Total investments proposed in urban transport sector over the next five years is Rs.1998.88 crore.

Development of green spaces and parks will be undertaken at a cost of Rs. 120 crore under the Atal Mission.

Capacity building of urban local bodies will be taken up at a cost of Rs. 120 crore. Administrative and Other Expenses during the Mission period till 2019 is estimated to be Rs. 2,614 crore.

The State Government reported that as required under AMRUT Guidelines, Operation & Maintenance costs of infrastructure assets to be created will be included in the Detailed Project Reports and operation and maintenance (O&M) costs will be borne by the urban local bodies through user charges including tariff rationalization, reduction of quantum of water being supplied without any collection of charges, energy conservation and efficiency improvement and improvement of systems efficiency by adopting ICT.

The Andhra Pradesh Government has assured the Urban Development Ministry that the mandated 11 urban sector reforms will be implemented in 6 to 36 months. This includes e-governance, Municipal Tax and Fee improvement, improvement in levy and collection of user charges and credit rating of urban local bodies.

The Andhra Pradesh Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation (AUFIDC) has been designated as the financial intermediary for mobilization of required resources. The State Government has set up Andhra Pradesh Greening and Beautification Corporation for taking up greening projects.

Under Atal Mission, the Central Government provides assistance up to 50% of projects for cities with a population of up to 10 lakhs and one third of project cost for cities with population of above 10 lakhs. In Andhra Pradesh, only Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada have population of over 10 lakhs each, the release added

Cryogenic (Liquid Nitrogen) food freezing facility in Bhimavaram

Cryogenic food freezing facility in Bhimavaram:

In a positive sign for foreign investment in the state, Andhra Pradesh state government has approved an Air separation unit (ASU) by The Linde Group subsidiary Linde India.

While clearing the investment a few months ago, the location was not previously finalized(4th May 2016). Now the location has been finalized, the food processing industry will benefit, a government official said. Coming up at the food lab and learning center in Bhinavaram, West Godavari district, the plant will cater to the local food processing industry in particular, according to local reports.

Linde India will set up a facility that will provide liquid nitrogen -196ºC to freeze shrimps, which help food associations and exporters. Andhra Pradesh is the top state in fisheries production in India.

The Linde Group has well documented expertise in Cryogenic food freezing, and Gas world reported in August(2015) that the group was understood to be interested in investing in the seafood industry in Andhra Pradesh southeast India.

The company is also said to be interested in setting up a further plant, a lab and an academy that will train the personnel required for supporting food processing.

News published - 

• http://www.gasworld.com/linde-india-asu-approved/2010675.article 
• http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/linde-india-to-invest-rs-500-cr-in-ap/article8556049.ece