Mayawati dashes off letter to PM, asks for power share

Lucknow, Dec 3(UNI) A day after Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi blamed the UP government of poor power situation in the state, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has rushed a letter to to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to provide the state its share in the central pool power generation.

'' The centre should immediately provide the required share of 50 per cent of the power generated by the central sector in the state'', the letter said while reiterating its demand of Rs 6800 crore as special package for development of power sector in the state.

The power crisis in up was discussed in the state cabinet meeting after it approved state government's equity of 35 per cent in two proposed mega power project of Bara and Karchana.

The letter to the PM said that against the state's share of 4500 Mega Watt, UP was only receiving 3000 MW.'' It is unfortunate that UP has to pay Rs 6 per unit in the peak hrs, if they withdraw power against the alloted share'', said state Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh while briefing mediapersons here.

The government proposed to set up mega Bara thermal power plant of 1980 MW and Karchana thermal power plant of 1320 MW.

The letter also urged the centre to allot independent mines under the coal linkage for the Bara and Karchana power plants.'' Presently the centre has given joint coal linkage with Maharastra and Chattishgarh in Orissa mines which will certainly delay the supply due to coordination problems'', Mr Singh said.

Yesterday,AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi during his Amethi visit had blamed the dismal power situation in UP was hindering the industrial development.

''I have been trying...but power is a problem,'' the young MP had said and added that the state government will have to take steps in this regard.

The state government has also issued directive to the UP Power Corporation Limited(UPPCL) to supply continuous power in the rural areas for 14 hours on a fixed time period.

UNI