Power theft serious issue: Minister

Bhopal, Mar 16 (UNI) Urging people's representatives to rise above politics and cooperate in curbing power theft, Madhya Pradesh Energy Minister Kailash Vijaywargiya said the government was ready to slash power tariff if power theft was curbed.

Replying to budgetary demands for 2007-08, Mr Vijaywargiya said the government has initiated an effort to constitute a House committee for making the state self-sufficient in power besides improving its quality.

During the debate, Speaker Ishwardas Rohani expressed displeasure over certain remarks by CPI(M)'s Ramlakhan Sharma regarding the Chair and expunged them. Mr Sharma expressed regret for his remarks.

Mr Vijaywargiya said the state will achieve 8,170 MW power capacity at an expenditure of Rs 1,100 crore by curbing distribution and transmission loss.

He informed that private industrialists were investing in power sector in the state in large numbers.

Power generation will be increased by 1,230 MW in the next two years by production from new plants and enhanced capacity of existing ones.

In the 4,000 MW power plant to be set up in Sidhi, an equity provision of Rs 15,000 core had been made besides a provision for providing 50 per cent employment to local candidates. The plant will generate power at 29 paise per unit.

In order to make the state self-reliant in power sector by 2012, a 500 MW power plant in Sarni and a 1,000 MW power plant in Malwa will be set up.

He said power generation capacity had been increased by 1,895 MW.

After the Minister's reply, the Rs 4,171.87 crore budgetary demands of his department was passed by the House.

UNI