Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), a PSU under the Union Ministry of Defence, at present having two units in Telangana and one in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, is spending heavily on several projects under corporate social responsibility in the two Telugu states, according to Chairman and Managing Director V. Udaya Bhaskar.

He was speaking in the Indo-German Institute of Advanced Technology (IGIAT) here on Wednesday after inaugurating five digital labs set up in the institute with the CSR funds (Rs 50 lakhs) sanctioned by the BDL. He said the BDL was also conducting skill development programme for 200 underprivileged and unemployed youths of AP in the institute at a cost of Rs 50 lakhs. Besides, he said, the BDL had adopted Gondupalem village in Visakhapatnam district and was providing various amenities at a cost of Rs 80 lakhs.

Mid-day meal scheme was being implemented in Visakhapatnam district for 5,000 students with the assistance of Akshaya Patra. Medicare was being provided to 2,000 senior citizens in Narsipatnam mandal of Visakhapatnam district with the assistance of Helpage India.

Udaya Bhaskar said the BDL had spent more than Rs 40 crores during the past three years on CSR activities in Telangana and AP mainly.

Expansion

He said the BDL, manufacturing guided weapons and also underwater weapons, had made rapid strides during the past few years, with the turnover jumping to Rs 4,579 crores in 2017-18 from Rs 1100 crores in 2013-14. "We have three units now - one near Hyderabad and another at Medak in Telangana and one here - and we are setting up two more units - one at Ibrahimpatnam in Telangana and one at Amravati in Maharashtra.

He said the plant at Ibrahimpatnam in Telangana was coming up on a 650-acre plot and the first phase had already been completed and the Maharashtra Government had given 540 acres for the Amravati plant, where work is yet to begin. "We have spent more than Rs 500 crores on expansion during the past four years and during the current financial year we will spend Rs 90 crores," he added.

He said the BDL was currently working on very short range air defence missiles (directed against drones) and they may be manufactured at the Amravati plant in Maharashtra.

G. Kumaraswamy Reddy, a retired IAS official and president of IGIAT, explained about the activities of the institute.

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