Rajasthan nuclear power units get Centre's approval

The union government has given an in-principle approval for setting up two 700 Mw nuclear units at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan, sources in the energy department said.

"We have received an in principle approval for two nuclear power units in Rawatbhata and we are hopeful of getting a final clearance soon from the Union government," an official of state energy department said.

He said due to the power crisis in the state, Rajasthan government has chalked out plans to add over 1,500 Mw power supply to its present capacity in the coming two years. Nine electricity-generating units are being raised under different power projects across the state that will increase the current capacity of 2,569 Mw to 4,084 Mw, he added.

Of the 1,525 Mw planned, 450 Mw power is expected to be added to the state's production by August 2007.

In the annual plan for 2007-08, a total provision of over Rs 5,320 crore has been proposed for the power sector. A provision of Rs 2,741 crore has been proposed for power generation alone.

This includes Rs 425 crore for Dholpur gas project state-I, Rs 236 crore for Giral lignite project state-II, Rs 1020 crore for Chhabra thermal power project stage-I phase-II among other such projects.

The official said Rs 1,022 crore had been proposed in the annual plan for 2007-08 for transmission programme which includes Rs 400 crore as transition support for financial restructuring project (FRP).

An amount of Rs 1,555 crore has been proposed for distribution companies which includes Rs 453 crore for Jaipur Discom, Rs 652 crore for Ajmer Discom and Rs 450 crore for Jodhpur Discom.

The official said according to the plan, 1,407 villages are to be electrified and over 27,000 wells are proposed to be energised during 2007-08.