Five ultra mega power projects by year-end: FM

New Delhi, Feb 28: Five ultra mega power projects will be awarded this year each with a generation capacity of 4,000 MW in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

The projects will be awarded before December 31, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said presenting the Union Budget for 2006-07.

The power projects in Gujarat, Karanataka and Maharashtra will be located on the coast, he said.

An Empowered Committee of Chief Ministers and Power Ministers will be constituted to create a framework for carrying out the reforms, he said.

"Capacity addition alone is not enough, we need deep and durable reforms in transmission and distribution", Mr Chidambaram said.

The Budget allocates Rs 597 crore for non-conventional energy in 2006-07.

The target of 3,075 MW installed capacity for non-conventional energy for the Tenth Plan has been exceeded by 575 MW, he said.

UNI

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