Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday handed over a cheque for Rs. 350 crore to Chairman and Managing director of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) B. Prasada Rao for construction of super critical power stations at Kothagudem and Manuguru in Khammam district.

This was the first instalment of funds released to the State-owned BHEL, a major in the field of power plant equipment, after it signed a memorandum of understanding with the State Government for commissioning the plants.

Sources said Mr. Rao asked the BHEL top executive to complete the works at Kothagudem in two years and a year later at Manuguru. He promised to get environment clearance for two other thermal power stations at Damaracharla in Nalgonda district during his visit to New Delhi on January 4 and 5.

Water grid programme

Separately, the Chief Minister discussed with senior officers proposals for implementation of water grid programme to supply safe drinking water. He asked them to take steps to divert Krishna waters for drinking purposes to Hyderabad, Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda and Ranga Reddy districts in two years. Raw water should not be pumped to high altitude areas. It should be cleaned at source and pumped.

Irrigation and Finance Ministers T. Harish Rao and Eatala Rajender participated in yet another meeting to discuss the arrears to contractors of irrigation projects