'Gujarat soon to have 7,000 MW surplus power'

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi today said that the state would soon be having around 7,000 MW of surplus power, and could help other power-starved states.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said that the state would soon be having around 7,000 MW of surplus power, and could help other power-starved states.

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"We currently have 4,000 MW of excess power and within a year or so we expect to have 7,000 MW of surplus power that will help eradicate the darkness in the country," Modi said, addressing a gathering of women from public sector enterprises at Indian Institute of Management here.

"In 2001, when I came to power, the state was facing a shortfall of nearly 2,000 MW. People used to come and request that there should be power supply at least during the dinner time.

"The situation has changed, from power deficit we are a power surplus state today," he said.

Modi noted that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had expressed concern over `the poor health of the power sector' (discoms) recently, but, despite all odds, Gujarat's electricity company was a profit making entity today, he said.