Ramesh assures Dikshit of adequate power for Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 13 (UNI) Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh today assured Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit that adequate power supply will be made available to Delhi this summer and load shedding will not affect people.

Mr Ramesh and Ms Dikshit today held discussions on meeting the gap between projected power demand and supply in Delhi during the summer.

Delhi Power Minister A K Walia, Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta, Power Secretary Rajendra Kumar and senior officers of Delhi Transco Limited were also present at the meeting.

''Mr Ramesh said Delhi would regularly get 200 MW of power from Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) from next month onwards to meet the shortfall in power supply,'' an official in the CMO said.

The Minister of State for Power said the ministry would ''seriously and actively'' consider increasing Delhi's share from last year's 22 per cent to 40 per cent from un-allocated power reserve as requirement of Delhi was crucial.

He expressed confidence that this would suffice Delhi's power demand.

''Delhiites would not be allowed to face any difficulties due to load shedding. The Union Power Ministry would leave no stone unturned in meeting power demands of Delhi,'' the Minister said.

Mr Ramesh was apprised of power generation plans of Delhi.

Delhi's own generation and expected supply together would touch around 9,000 MW within next four years against present generation of around 3,200 MW.

Delhi has tied up with DVC for supply of around 2,500 MW by 2011-12. Apart from this a 1,500 MW gas based plant at Bawana, 750 MW gas based plant at Bamnauli and 108 MW NDPL plant would be commissioned within two and half years.

In addition to this Delhi would also get 750 MW share from NTPC Jhajjar Aravali Project and another 980 MW dedicated supply from Dadri Power Station.

Ms Dikshit expressed hope that the Union Power Ministry would continue to render substantial contribution in making life of Delhiites more comfortable during summer season.

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