States need to ensure local consent for UMPP: Power Secretary

New Delhi, Dec 3 (UNI) Power Secretary Anil Razdan today said the government would like to increase the number of ultra-mega power project (UMPP) from the present nine to double digit, but depended on the states making water and land available with the consent of the local population.

''Depend on the states to offer appropriate sites which meets the consent of the local population and have water and environmental clearences,'' said Mr Razdan at the sidelines of India Economic Summit here.

He said that his ministry was trying to finalise a site in Chhattisgarh and two in Orissa.

He however, said that the proposal to have one UMPP in Tamil Nadu was proving to be complex, since the state government had offered two sites and have been shifting the location of these sites as well.

The official said that the site in Karnataka which was to come up in Dadri, was meeting local resistance and Giri in Maharashtra was suffering the same fate. The state government have been asked to quickly form up alternative solution.

Mr Razdan added he has simultaneously asked the central electricity commission to take a hard look at reducing the land requirements of UMPP projects.

Sounding a stern warning to the UMPP project developers, Mr Razdan said no delays in the project will be tolerated.

UNI