Reliance to commence work at Dadri project

Lucknow, Aug 23: Reliance Energy Ltd (REL) would commence construction at the controversial Dadri gas-based power project from tomorrow, the Uttar Pradesh government informed the legislatiive council today.

State transport minister Naresh Agarwal informed the house during question hour the REL would commence construction work at the project site in UP's Gautam Buddha Nagar from tomorrow.

The project had come under fire from former Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh's Jan Morcha (JM) and Congress over acquisition of farmers' cultivable farm land at throwaway prices.

JM has alleged UP was acquiring the land to help Anil Ambani create real estate in prime land at low prices. JM said the state government should have asked REL to negotiate land prices as per market rates. Congress too had opined similar views.

In reply to a question by Rashtriya Lok Dal's Munna Singh Chauhan, Mr Aggarwal said the land was bought from the farmers at Rs 150 per sq yard.

While the government would pay 60 per cent for the purpose, REL would pay the rest. So far, 2,173 acres land has been acquired. As per the agreement reached between UP and REL, a total of 2,500 acres was to be acquired for the mega project.

The minister also took the opportunity to slam the Centre for not providing UP with adequate power supply. He said at present the state was power deficit by 800 Mw to 2000 Mw.

UNI