Focus on using less water for power generation: Minister

Maharashtra Government will focus on those forthcoming power generation projects which use minimal water, considering the present water scarcity, the state Legislative Assembly was told today.
"The ensuing projects will be those using minimal water and also techniques like air-cooling," Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said, replying to a query by Rana Jagjitsinh Patil.
Patil drew the minister's attention to 2.25 lakh tonne coal 'lying idle' at the Parli thermal power station in drought-hit Marathwada region.
Henceforth, sewerage water will be used in thermal power stations, the minister said.
Considering the acute water shortage in parts of Maharashtra, forthcoming power projects in the state will be those using minimal water, he said.