Madhya Pradesh to get 500 Mw unit on June 28

Madhya Pradesh will add another 500 Mw to its installed production capacity on June 28 with the commissioning of a new unit at the Sanjay Gandhi Thermal Power Project at Birsinghpur (Shahdol District).

The project, which was started in 1991, with a minuscule 20 Mw hydel power generation, will be completed to attain an installed capacity of 1,360 Mw.

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (Bhel) has executed the third phase of the Rs 2,300-crore project on a turnkey basis, behind schedule.

The project will not only feed the entire Madhya Pradesh but also the tribal dominated Shadol-Umaria regions through Birsingpur-Katni, Birsinghpur-Korba (double circuit) through a 400 kV (kilovolt) transmission line and 220 kV Birsinghpur-Jabalpur line.

"Leader of the Opposition LK Advani will inaugurate the project on June 28," a government spokesperson said.

Southern Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) will supply coal to the project. The slow progress on the Sanjay Gandhi Thermal Power station at Birsinghpur in Madhya Pradesh has increased the cost of the project.

The state government has raised its share capital from Rs 590.14 crore to Rs 6,10.92 crore. Power Finance Corporation's (PFC's) loan for the project has already been increased from Rs 1,560 crore to Rs 1,675 crore.

The thermal power project was slated to be commissioned and started production by September last year.

However, there is an inordinate delay in the project. The power minister Kailash Vijayvergiya had held Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) responsible for delay in the power projects. They have been delayed for almost one year.

Madhya Pradesh Power Generation Company Ltd, a division of MPSEB had awarded the Sanjay Gandhi Thermal Power Station (Birsinghpur) and 210 Mw Amarkantak Thermal Power projects for expansion during 2003 and 2004 respectively. Work orders in balance of plants, and supply in important material of various units had been delayed by Bhel.

Madhya Pradesh will only be able to add 500 Mw of power against the expected 1500 Mw of power. The 520 Mw Omkareshwar project is facing legal issues while another expansion project of 210 Mw Amarkantak Power project is also running behind schedule.

The project is also being completed by Bhel. While few other projects have also been delayed and are unlikely to be completed this year.