Omkareshwar Project to begin commercial production on Aug 8

Bhopal, July 23 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today informed the Assembly that the Omkareshwar Hydel Power Project had initiated generation while commercial production of about 12 lakh units per day would begin from August 8.

''In the light of a Supreme Court directive, the Omkareshwar reservoir has been filled to 189 m. The government is endeavouring to achieve the 520-MW target as soon as possible. I assure the members that resettlement is being undertaken with sensitivity and a humanitarian viewpoint,'' he said.

The district administration was directed to organise camps in every village for solving oustees' problems. Village and district-level committees include oustees' representatives.

''The Project's first 65-MW unit was satisfactorily tested and test-synchronisation undertaken on Saturday. Load-testing began today. A trial run will get underway on July 26. Testing has begun on the second unit and it will be synchronised by August 11. All units will be able to function simultaneously when the reservoir level reaches 193.54 m,'' Mr Chouhan added.

The main opposition Congress' Govind Singh expressed gratitude to the regime for its attempts to improve the power scenario. ''A paucity is resulting in 12-15 hours of outages in rural areas,'' he alleged.

UNI