Chhattisgarh CM seeks more power from Western Grid

New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) Contending Pointing out that Chhattisgarh is the only state to have been deprived of its due share in electricity as per the Gadgil formula, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh today urged the Union Government to allocate to it eight per cent power as against three per cent from the central power stations of the Western Grid.

In the case of allocation of power from un-allocated quota of central generating stations in the Western Grid, Chhattisgarh has been allocated only three per cent of power whereas other states included in the Wstern Grid are being given huge allotment, ''he said, speaking at the Chief Ministers' Conference on Power convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here.

Dr Singh said the State was presently facing power shortage of 23 to 24 per cent that goes up to 43 per cent during the peak period. The state was allocated a share of 498 mw from the central share in the year 2001, which was curtailed drastically 210 MW in the November 2004.

''This curailment was efected at a time when power cnsumption had actually grown from 900 MW to 2300 MW. For this reason,the State had to resort to load shedding of three to four hours, per day,'' he said.

Dr Singh said the country's laws did not permit taxation on generation of electricity. However,the prosperous states, which consumed this power, were able to impose taxes due on electricity consumed, which on an average, was 8 per cent, thereby collecting almost Rs 120 per year on comsumption of 1000 MW electricity. But the states' which generated electricity did not get any revenue.

The Chief Minister demanded that states like Chhattisgarh which are suitably poised to provide electricity to the nation be adequately compensated in view of the grim power situation they faced. Such States should be allotted 12 per cent power at variable cost from these plants by way of compensation or otherwise given the right to collect taxes on generation of power.

This way the country would be able to achieve the target of generation of 78,000 MW power during the 11th Plan,he said.

UNI