Maharashtra willing to pay more for energy

Faced with a severe electricity shortage, the Maharashtra government today said it was willing to buy power from other states at higher prices if need be.

The government also indicated that the proposed NTPC power project, the company's first in the state, is in the final stages of approval. Once sanctioned, the project it will be operational at the earliest, the government ensured.

"We are trying to get 100MW from Haryana. I have also spoken to Petroleum Minister Murli Deora for more gas for the Uran power project (near Mumbai) which should generate an additional 300MW. We are talking to other states as well and will pay more if needed to get the power," Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said.

"Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has informed me that a large power project (NTPC project), which was being considered in the state, has been found to be viable and the construction of the plant will begin soon," he said.

Deshmukh said the additional day of power cuts being enforced on industries would be done away  once the additional electricity is received by the state, which is currently facing a shortfall of over 5,000MW.