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National

Three States finalise sites for power projects

Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI: None of the five Chief Ministers — from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra — turned up for the meeting convened by the Centre to discuss expeditious implementation of Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPPs).

However, the meeting, called by Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, got a categorical assurance from Tamil Nadu’s Power Minister Arcot Veeraswamy that the government had approved Cheyyur in Kanchipuram district as the site for setting up of a 4,000 MW project.

Orissa also indicated that it had finalised Bedabaha in Sundargarh district for setting up a project and Maharasthra had finalised Munge in Sindudrug district for the purpose.

Lukewarm response

While Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu were represented by their Power Ministers, Orissa and Chhattisgarh were represented by the Principal Secretaries (Energy). Chhattisgarh gave a lukewarm response to setting up an UMPP while Karnataka said its site at Tadri in Uttar Kannada district had run into local problems.

Tardy progress

The progress on the UMPPs has been very tardy with only three UMPPs having taken off till date despite promises to have nine of them by the end of the 11th or by middle of 12th Plan, something that was unlikely to happen.

The meeting was also attended by Union Ministers P. Chidambaram (Finance), Kapil Sibbal (Science and Technology), Hans Raj Bhardwaj (Law) and other senior officials.

“The very fact that Chief Ministers were invited for the meeting by Mr. Shinde and they did not respond positively indicated how serious they were in solving the power woes being faced by their States. This holds very true of Southern States which are faced with severe power crisis and a UMPP would be a big boon for them,” a senior Power Ministry official said.

It was also decided that the Request for Quotation for the Tilaiya UMPP in Jharkhand would be open on November 4 and the selection of the successful bidder would be decided by November 28.

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