UP announces uninterrupted power supply during exams

Lucknow, Mar 5 (UNI) The Uttar Pradesh government today announced to provide uninterrupted power supply during the ongoing examination season for which the state was importing an additional 300 mw of power from Himachal Pradesh at the rate of Rs 7.50 per unit.

In a reply to a question of RLD member Choudhary Sateyendra Solanki, state energy minister Ramveer Upadhaya said the government was committed to providing adequate electricity during the examination season and hence, was purchasing power at such higher rates.

He said at present, HP was supplying 100 mw additional power and officials of the UP Power Corporation had been sent to Shimla to get another 200 mw at the earliest.

As per the estimate, the government would have to pay Rs 75 lakh per three hours on import of 300 mw of power from Himachal, he added.

The Minister in detail also gave the progress report of the upcoming power plants in the state in the private and joint sector, claiming that UP would turn into a power surplus state by 2012.

To another question of BJP's Shyam Deo Rai Chouhdury, state food and supply Minister Ram Prasad Choudhury said the government had sent a proposal to the Centre to give cash subsidy to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families instead of foodgrains.

''The state has already started the pilot project at Hardoi and Lakhimpur districts under the scheme to provide cash susbidy to the families of the BPL,'' he added.

UNI MB ATI MS KN1645