Centre keen to revive Maheshwar power project

Apart from the social and legal issues, the 400 Mw project has been facing funding problems as well.

Mehta said the central government was keen on hydroelectric projects all over the country. The Centre would like to review the 22 private power purchase agreements signed by the state government, she added.

"We will see technical and environment clearances and other details of the proposals, but the state government will have to take the initiative," she said.

The minister said the central government was ready to help the state government to provide uninterrupted power to consumers.

The Narmada Hydroelectric Development Corporation (NHDC), a joint venture company of the Madhya Pradesh government and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), would start commercial power production from January 15 at the rate of 2.24 paise per unit, said Mehta said.

The minister said the central government had prepared a power package for the state during the 10th Five-Year Plan.

According to the package, the state will get 1,520 Mw from the central quota, 595 Mw from the state quota and private power plants are likely to supply 948 Mw.

She said the 1,000 Mw Indira Sagar Project would go on trial production between December 25 and December 31, 2003, but the state would not the full supply because the 60 km long 11 Kv transmission line was yet to be completed.

A 9 km transmission line was being laid, but it would not be possible for the NHDC to transmit more than 500 Mw through that line, she said. She alleged that the previous government ignored the project.