Nuke deal to boost future power scenario: Shinde

Ranchi, Jul 18 (UNI) Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde today justified the Indo-US nuclear deal saying the country would reap the 'harvest in future.' By 2032, the country would require 5 lakh MW of electricity, Mr Shinde said and asserted that only through the nuclear deal, the demand could be achieved.

Talking to reporters here after the Power Ministry's Parliamentary Advisory Committee meeting, he also made mention of the Damodar Valley Coporation which was expected to generate power to the capacity of 10,700 MW by 2012 of which 7500 MW power plant was under construction.

He said in the past 15 years, India could produce only 56000 MW of additional power and cliamed that in the 11th five-year-plan the target had been estiamated to touch 80,000 MW.

To a separate question, Mr Shinde expressed confidence that the UPA would sail through the floor test to be held on July 22.

UNI PRS KK/src RL VC1934