Mah Govt draws up plan for power generation to meet deficit:Krishna

Mumbai, May 1 (UNI) Expressing concern over the growing shortage of power in Maharashtra, Governor S M Krishna today said the state government has drawn up a time-bound programme for generating 10,000 mega watt of power through a joint initiatives by Union and state governments as well as the private sector.

Addressing a gathering after unfurling the national flag to mark the 47th anniversary of the formation of Maharashtra at Shivaji Park here, Mr Krishna, who turned 75 today, said shortage of power has become a major concern as it had spared neither urban nor rural areas.

To deal with such a situation, the state government has drawn up a time-bound programme to generate electricity. It has been decided to generate 10,000 MW of power through a combination of the initiatives by the Union and state governments as well as the private sector.

Earlier, the Governor unfurled the tricolour and took salute from the ceremonial parade.

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and his wife Vaishali, Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, Minister for Protocol Ashok Chavan and the newly-appointed Chief Secretary Johny Joseph greeted the Governor on his birthday.

''It is our sacred duty to remember with gratitude the great martyrs who laid down their lives for the cause of formation of Samyutka Maharashtra and to pay our respect to their memory. Today, we are also celebrating the International Labour Day. We are aware of the sterling contribution of workers in the advancement of our country and I salute these vanguards of progress on this occasion,'' the Governor added.

Mr Krishna noted that whether it is per capita income or industrial investment, the whole country looks up to Maharashtra as a role model.

In order to attract more industrial investments in the state so that it could retain its number one status and also to generate fresh opportunities of employment, he said the state government had introduced a Mega Project Policy in June 2005, which has been followed by the declaration of a comprehensive Industrial Investment and Infrastructure Policy of 2006.

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