Maharashtra to get Rs 10,000 cr PFC assistance: Shinde

Mumbai, Sep 13 (UNI) Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today assured the Maharashtra Government would be provided an assistance of Rs 10,000 crore by the Power Finance Corporation (PFC) for upgradation of the State's power infrastructure.

Mr Shinde was speaking at a function to commemorate the Rs 15,000 crore funding programme of Maharashtra's power sector by the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC). Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was present on the occasion.

Mr Shinde said that while Rs 15,000 crore has already been sanctioned by the REC for the three companies -- Maharashtra Electricity Generation Company (Mahagenco), Maharashtra Electricity Distribution Company (Mahadiscom) and Maharashtra Electricity Transmission Company (Mahatransco), the PFC will provide a further Rs 10,000 crore assistance to the State Government.

The Centre, Mr Shinde said, is committed to provide electricity to all villages in the country by the year 2009 while all houses will have a power unit by the year 2012. The Government is committed to raise the per capita consumption of electricity, which at present stands at 660 units, to 1000 units.

Referring to the Ratnagiri Gas and Power Private Limited (RGPPL), earlier Dabhol, Mr Shinde said that LNG would not become available to the company till March 2007. Therefore, the Prime Minister and Finance Minister were urged to waive taxes on naphtha and the customs duty on naphtha has been reduced. The electricity will be available from RGPPL at a cost of Rs 4.80 per unit, he said.

Mr Deshmukh, while speaking on the occasion, expressed concern over fuel unavailibility and urged the Centre to look into it.

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