Maharashtra to be self-sufficient in power by 2012: Patil

Kolhapur, May 31 (UNI) Maharashtra Energy Minister Dilip Walse Patil today said to tide over the power deficit, the state government has encouraged private companies and sugar cooperatives to undertake electricity generation projects on a priority basis and make the state self-sufficient by 2012.

The Minisiter was speaking at an inaugural function of the electricity co-generation project by Shri Shahu Cooperative Sugar factory in Kagal tehsil of the district. State Finance Minister Jayant Patil presided over the function.

He said total 13,000 mega watt of power is expected to be generated.

Besides, the state gets 250 MW of power from Parli generation centre, 250 MW from Paras, 500 MW from Khaparkheda, 500 MW from Bhusawal, 1,000 MW from Chandrapur, 600 MW from Koradee, aggregating 3,100 MW from these centres. In next couple of years, the capacity of these centres will be enhanced so that they can generate 6,500 MW of power. So, the combined power generation capacity will go up to nearly 21,000 MW by 2012. With this, the state will be free from load-shedding, he said.

Meanwhile, speaking at another function in Kagal MIDC, Mr Walse-Patil said till the yearend, load shedding will be reduced by 50 per cent.

The electricity department had undertaken drives to check electricity leakages and theft in this regard, he added.

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