Mayawati hints at power tariff hike

Lucknow, June 13 (UNI) Hinting at a hike in power tariff, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati today announced a series of power reform measures including generation of additional 10,000 Megawatt (MW) of power in the state by 2011.

Hitting hard on the power theft, she said her government would be harsh on the power offenders as already power theft has been declared a social crime.

Ms Mayawati, addressing a press conference after the state cabinet meeting here, said the government had started the process to rationalise power tariffs and reorganise the power distribution divisions.

'' we have to fill the gap between the rate of power purchased by the government and the cost realised from the consumers'', UP CM said adding that the loss of the power sector had reached an alarming Rs 5,500 crore till the last financial year and in the last three years there had been no increase in power tariffs despite increase in fuel cost.

''I have inherited the critical power situation from the previous government and it is not possible to change the scenario overnight but I can assure you that my government is determined to provide relief to the masses within a reasonable time period,'' she asserted.

The CM said the government had fixed a target of power generation by 1,200 MW in next one year and another 1,500 MW by the year 2009.

Furthermore, the state government intends to put up additional 10,000 MW by 2011 so that it can meet the spurt in demand and accelerate the development of the state.

Ms Mayawati also announced to hand over the proposed Anpara D Parichha and Harduaganj extensions power projects to the public sector, 1,320 MW power project at Allahabad with NTPC and Anpara-C, Roza and Srinagar hydro projects in private sector. Besides this mega thermal power projects of 3,000 MW will be started in the private sector in Bara and Karchhana in Allahabad.

''All the power projects in the private sector, will be allocated on the basis of global competitive bidding, adopted fully through transparent procedure,'' she added.

UNI