Mulayam blames Centre for delay in Dadri power project

Lucknow, July 3 (UNI) Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Leader of the Opposition in the state assmebly Mulayam Singh Yadav today blamed the Centre for delay in Anil Ambani's Dadri power project in the state.

He alleged that the UPA government at the Centre was not providing gas for the project, leading to the delay.

He also charged the Centre with provoking the farmers of Dadri to stage a protest against the project when the land was being acquired after an agreement with the owners.

A piquant situation arose in the Uttar Pradesh assembly today, when opposition parties traded charges against each other for the delay in the Reliance-owned Dadri gas-based power project.

In fact, Mr Yadav took a strong exception to the allegation of Shyam Deo Roychoudhury of the BJP during the question hour that the previous state government had not fulfilled the promise to start the project in time.

However, state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Lalji Verma also maintained that the approval of supply of gas to Dadri was still pending with the Centre.

Earlier replying to SP's Naresh Agarwal's query, state Power Minister Ramveer Upadhaya said power theft was one of the main reason for shortage of power in the state.

He said within three years there will be sufficient power generation in the state to cater to the required sector.

UNI