Indira Sagar dedicated to nation

UNION ENERGY Ministry Sushilkumar Shinde today dedicated to the nation 1000-MW Indira Sagar Power (ISP) station of Narmda Hydroelectric Development Corporation (NHDC) in Omkareshwar.

UNION ENERGY Ministry Sushilkumar Shinde today dedicated to the nation 1000-MW Indira Sagar Power (ISP) station of Narmda Hydroelectric Development Corporation (NHDC) in Omkareshwar.

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Speaking on the occasion Shinde said that large projects like ISP should generate employment for local and project affected persons so that it reduces the pain of those who have been displaced. He informed that Ministry has introduced franchise scheme where local youth, NGO and self-help groups would be delegated responsibility for power transmission.

Adding that Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Scheme has been introduced in 10 villages in the state, he said that a village would be declared electrified if its school, hospital, backward areas and families living below poverty line have received electricity and a certificate has been issued this effect by sarpanch.

He said the production at present was 1.25 lakh MW and the country needs additional one lakh MW of energy to meet the increasing demand. Shinde said that Ultra Project would be started to reach the consumption target of 1000 unit per person by 2020. The project will cost Rs 16,000 crore and some states including Madhya Pradesh have given consent for it.

Presiding over the function, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that ISP would help in tiding over the state’s power crisis. He commended NHDC for completing the project a year ahead of the schedule and said power crisis would be overcome within next two and half years while irrigation facilities would be developed in eight lakh hectares. He demanded formation of Special Economic Zones to provide employment to people affected by Narmada projects.