BHEL assures timely completion of MP projects

After MP Power Minister Kailash Vijayvergiya complained in the assembly about Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd's delay in executing the Sanjay Gandhi and Amarkantak thermal power projects (reported in this paper on November 8), the Madhya Pradesh government has pulled up the central public sector undertaking.

BHEL is executing the projects on a turnkey basis.

According to insiders, the state government has warned BHEL that further delay may put the company out of reckoning for new projects.

"The delay has cost the state dear because it has to purchase additional power," said a government source.

A meeting took place between Vijayvergiya, senior officials of his department, and BHEL representatives yesterday in Bhopal.

"The power minister has issued instructions to BHEL to complete and make the plants operational within a given timeframe," an insider told Business Standard.

A government statement issued here also confirmed the report. The minister was not available for comment.

The Sanjay Gandhi Thermal power project is supposed to be completed by January 31 and the Amarkantak Thermal Power station by July 30 next year.

"BHEL Director Ravi Kumar has assured the minister that the Sanjay Gandhi Thermal Power will be operational by January 31," said the source.

The minister has set the dates for the completion of the remaining plants and other works.