Centre reviews progress; selects 3 states for setting up UMPP

New Delhi, Aug 4 (UNI) The Central government today reviewed the progress being made in implementing Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPPs) and selected Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Orissa for setting up the project.

''Today's meeting had resulted in final decisions being taken for the sites for setting up one UMPP each in the States of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Orissa. It was decided that immediate action would be taken by all concerned towards early implementation of these projects, so that the overall benefit of 12,000 MW from these three projects could be brought on stream at the earliest possible,'' an official statement said here.

The meeting, under the Chairmanship of Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, had been called to expedite decisions in respect of five more UMPPs in the backdrop of substantial progress already having been achieved for four projects at Mundra, Sasan, Krishnapatnam and Tilaiya under this Central Government initiative.

''It was noted with satisfaction that all three of the UMPPs awarded so far (Mundra in Gujarat, Sasan in Madhya Pradesh&Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh) had now indicated substantial preponement of their commissioning schedules, and it was expected that it would now be possible to commission a few units aggregating about 3,000 MW within the 11th Plan itself whereas they were to give benefits in the 12th Plan,'' the statement said.

During the meeting, Minister (Energy) Tamil Nadu confirmed a site at Cheyyur, along with a captive port at Paramankeni for development of a UMPP in the State, besides making a strong request for a second UMPP at Cuddalore.

The Energy Minister of Maharashtra confirmed the availability of Munge site in Sindhudurg District for setting up the UMPP, along with a nearby captive port.

The Energy Secretary of Orissa confirmed availability of water for the already identified site at Bedabahal in Sundergarh District.

''Though sites in Bijapur District were indicated in Karnataka by the Power Minister of Karnataka, it was felt that further studies would be required before taking a decision for locating a UMPP in the suggested sites which are not coastal locations,'' the statement said.

The meeting was also attended by Law and Justice Minister H R Bhardwaj, Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Minister of State for Power and Commerce Jairam Ramesh.

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