Thirumayam, Aug. 2 (ANI): The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Friday dedicated to the nation the Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd plant's second unit at Tiruchirapalli and Piping Plant in Thirumayam, near Pudukottai in Tamil Nadu.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Singh said Bharat Heavy Electricals is one of our Maharatna public sector enterprises.
"It has played an extremely important part in the industrial development of our country, particularly in the energy sector. I believe that with the operationalization of these two units, the company has achieved an annual manufacturing capacity of 20000 MW," he added.
Dr. Singh congratulated Minister of Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises Praful Patel and the officers and staff of Bharat Heavy Electricals on this important achievement.
The Prime Minister also congratulated Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, who was instrumental in persuading Bharat Heavy Electricals to locate the new Power Plant Piping Unit at Thirumayam, a backward block in Pudukkottai district.
"He has strived tirelessly for the all-round development of this region. This only shows the deep concern Shri Chidambaram has for the people of his constituency. It also exemplifies our Government's commitment for the development of the backward regions of our country," he said.
Dr. Singh said there are numerous benefits that such new manufacturing units bring to an area.
"They bring new employment opportunities for the youth. In addition to direct jobs, they also generate indirect employment through small businesses and service providers. There is a boost to skill development as such manufacturing units induct apprentices for training," said Dr. Singh.
"There is also an increase in trade and commerce in the area, contributing to an overall rise in prosperity. I am sure that some of these benefits are already accruing to the people of Thirumayam and its surrounding areas," he added.
Dr. Singh said the country needs to do much more in manufacturing.
"We need to expand manufacturing substantially both in absolute terms and as a proportion of our Gross Domestic Product. Only this can enable us to generate productive employment for our large and growing labour-force. BHEL is not only one of our foremost manufacturing companies, but is also contributing to our efforts for expanding manufacturing by helping us make our economy more competitive," he added.
The Prime Minister pointed out that a large scale capacity addition programme is needed to address the current power deficit and to meet the needs of the expanding economy.
"The Government is targeting a capacity addition of more than one hundred thousand MW, including renewables, in the 12th Five Year Plan. In the 11th Five Year Plan, the country added around 55,000 MW of generation capacity which is more than twice the addition achieved in the 10th Five Year Plan. Out of this Bharat Heavy Electricals alone accounted for almost half. This shows the critical role that the company plays in one of the key sectors of our economy," said Dr. Singh.
"I have been told that Bharat Heavy Electricals has been undertaking many new initiatives to expand its manufacturing capacity. The dedication today of Bharat Heavy Electricals' new Units is an outcome of such initiatives. I understand that spread over 3 lakh square meters, the company's Trichy complex is one of the biggest in Asia as a whole," he added.
Asserting that climate change has become an urgent concern across the globe, Dr. Singh said: "India is among the countries that would be the most seriously impacted by the consequences of climate change. We need to develop ways and means to reduce our carbon foot?print through technological innovation."
"In our country, more than 50 percent of power comes from coal-based generation, which is a major emitter of greenhouse gases. I am very happy that Bharat Heavy Electricals has taken initiatives for the development of ultra super critical technology in line with our mission for deployment of clean coal technologies," he added.
Dr. Singh further said the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission seeks to develop 20,000 MW of solar power generating capacity by the end of the 13th Five Year Plan.
"Its success has the potential of enhancing India's energy security, and contributing handsomely to our efforts to combat climate change," he added. (ANI)
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