Govt assures adequate power before Commonwealth Games

New Delhi, Aug 21 (UNI) The government today sought to allay widepsread doubts about the availability of adequate electricity in the national capital before the 2010 Commonwealth Games, saying efforts were being put in place for a smooth conduct of the prestigious event.

Replying to a half-an-hour discussion on the National Electricity Policy (NEP) in the Rajya Sabha, Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said an MoU would be signed within three-four days between the Delhi and Haryana governments for providing additional power to the national capital.

''I have already held talks with the Haryana Chief Minister in this connection. A similar meeting will soon be held with the Delhi Chief Minister also,'' he told the House.

Mr Shinde pointed out that a power plant, which was proposed to be set up in Chhattisgarh, would now be allotted to Haryana. ''This has become imperative because the Chhattisgarh government wanted five per cent of power produced in the proposed plant free of cost,'' he said, adding that such a demand was untenable for the Centre.

Additionally, the minister said electricity would also be provided to Delhi from the Tehri dam and the Nathpa-Jhakri plant.

''Power will not be a problem in the smooth conduct of the Commonwealth games,'' he assured.

Mr Shinde also reiterated the UPA governemnt's resolve to provide uninterrupted power to every household by 2012 at the rate of Rs 2.20 per unit.

''We will make efforts to provide power even at cheaper rates,'' he asserted.

In this connection, he appealed to the states to go in for capacity addition to power plants in a substantial manner and also improve the plant load factor (PLF).

He said a coordination committee, headed by the Prime Minister, had been holding meetings every month to deliberate on the thermal power sector and to look into the feasibility of providing captive coal mines to power plants.

Singling out Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses as a major area of concern, he said almost 30 per cent of power was wasted in T&D. ''This can be greatly minimised by putting in place an efficient grid network,'' he said.

With regard to pilferage of power, he said stern action would be taken against the culprits. ''The Electricty Act, 2003 has a number of provisions to deal with it,'' he said, and lauded West Bengal and Gujarat for initiating measures in this connection.

Mr Shinde said the Centre would accord priority to hydel power projects in the north-eastern states, and this would be vital in tiding over the present power crisis.

He said India's per capita consumption of electricity of 600 kw was far less as compared to 22,000 kw in the US and 1900 kw in China. ''This has to be improved if the country has to attain over eight per cent growth rate,'' he said, pointing out that funds would not be a constraint in setting up new power plants.

Eds: Pls pick up suitably from earlier series UNI SKS Vd GC1941