More power for state, vows CM

The state will overcome its power crisis and have surplus power within the next four years, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan promised in Nagpur, reports Pradip Kumar Maitra.

The state will overcome its power crisis and have surplus power within the next four years, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan promised in Nagpur on Sunday.

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Speaking at the foundation -laying ceremony for Reliance’s 300 MW project, Chavan said the state was increasing about 600-700 MW power every year, “The state-run power plants in the Maharashtra will generate 4,930 MW power alone by 2012,” he added.

Chavan admitted that the state was facing a shortage of 4,500 MW of power. “We will ensure that there is no power shortage this year and the crisis would be minimised in a phase manner,” he said.

Chavan said the government is also encouraging private parties to invest, particularly in-group captive power plants, so that the pressure from the industries could be minimised. “I am reviewing the state’s power status every month and taking steps to control the situation,” he said.

Union Energy Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said over 90,000 MW power would be generated in the country in the 11th five-year plan. The union undertaking NTPC would generate over 22,000 MW alone, he added.

Once the coal-based Reliance project is commissioned, it would bring relief to the power-deficit situation in industrial estate of Nagpur.