Centre gives 1,210 Mw to Maharashtra

The Centre today assured Maharashtra, reeling under an acute power crisis, that it would provide 1,210 Mw including 610 Mw at normal rates, to tide over the situation.

An assurance to this effect was given by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh after a 40-minute meeting, which deliberated on short-term measures to address the problem.

Deshmukh told reporters of the 610 Mw, 300 Mw would come from the Kawas project in Gujarat and 250 Mw from the Tarapur Nuclear Power Plant.

The chief minister, who was accompanied by Power Minister Dilip Walse Patil and Co-operation Minister Patangrao Kadam at the meeting, said short-term measures were focused in the interaction.

He said he would have another meeting with the Prime Minister later on the long-term measures to tide over the crisis including the issue of the Dabhol project.

Minister of State in the PMO Prithviraj Chavan was also present at the meeting, which saw the Centre agreeing to Maharashtra's request to make available coal mines at Bellora and Taklijena in the Chandrapur district for power generation.

The central assurance on the power issue would help ease the situation in the state facing a shortage of 3,500 Mw with the chief minister saying it would take much time to reach the level of zero load shedding.

Replying to a question, the chief minister said it was up to the state electricity board whether or not to use the electricity over and above the 610 Mw whose rate per unit could go up to Rs 5.

The chief minister parried questions on expansion of his Cabinet about which he has already held consultations with senior congress leaders including party chief Sonia Gandhi.