Himachal demands 400 MW power from UMPPs

Shimla, Nov 1 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Government has urged the Centre to allocate at least 400 MW power from Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPPs) established in different states of the country.

In a letter written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said, ''With the increase in the demand for power supply it is becoming difficult for the state to bridge the gap between demand and supply of the power requirements hence the state urgently requires at least 400 MW of power share from the thermal power projects set up under UMPPs programme.'' Prof Dhumal pointed out that out of the aggregate 32,000 MW power of eight UMPPs allocated to eighteen states, Himachal Pradesh had been left out in allocation while almost all the northern states had been covered and allocated power share.

He said that the state had requested for allocation of 200 MW from Sasan in Madhya Pradesh and Mundra in Gujrat, 200 MW from Cheyyur in Tamil Nadu and 400 MW from Tilaiya in Jharkhand, while the state was alternatively assured additional 100 MW share in the upcoming mega thermal projects of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), which too was yet to be implemented.

The Chief Minister urged the Centre to consider the request of Himachal Pradesh in the proposed meeting ofMinistry of Power Ministry scheduled for November 3 for distribution of power in respect of Akaltara UMPP in Chhatisgarh alongwith two other upcoming projects in Orissa and get a minimum of 400MW power allocated to Himachal Pradesh from those projects.

''The winter is approaching ahead and the state is expecting shortfall of power since all the major river discharges get reduced to minimum resulting into low power generation while the demand for power would increase substantially,'' he said.

He said that it would be in the best interest of the people of Himachal Pradesh if timely allocation of power was made in favour of the state so that necessary arrangements could be made for the equitable transmission and distribution of the same.

UNI XC PS MP PK HT1810