PM launches Barh transmission system, to convene CMs' meet

New Delhi, Mar 29 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today announced that he will convene a chief Ministers' conference to arrive at a political consensus on power reforms in order to provide electriciy to all by 2012.

''Power reforms are necessary to modernise the power sector and provide electricity to all at cheaper rates,'' he said after launching the Rs 3,780 crore Barh Transmission System through remote control from his official residence here where UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar and Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde were present.

Mr Shinde said the chief ministers' conference was expected after the assembly elections in five states. This could be possible only in the first week of June, he added.

The Barh Transmission System, to be developed by the Powergrid Corporation, has been planned to transfer power from Barh generation project to beneficiaries in Lucknow and Mau in Uttar Pradesh, Bhiwadi in Rajasthan, Moga in Punjab and Hissar in Haryana.

Power from the generation project would be pooled at Ballia (the Lok Sabha constituency of Mr Chandra Shekhar) for its onward transfer to load centres in Northern Region through a high capacity 2500 HVDC bipole line to be commissioned by 2008-09.

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