Schedule for Sasan, Mundra mega power projects by December

The government will announce the implementation schedule for the ultra mega power projects at Sasan in Madhya Pradesh and Mundra in Gujarat by December 2006.

The bid evaluation process for the projects would begin on November 22 this year, Union Power Secretary RV Shahi has said.

The contracts for their execution will be awarded by December 31, 2006. "Environment clearance from the ministry of environment and forest for these projects is in the final stages. An announcement can be expected any day now," he added.

"Given the accelerated pace at which the power ministry has been managing clearances for the ultra mega power projects, it has received requests from three more states for setting up such projects late last week. These include the Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Jharkhand," Shahi said at an Assocham seminar on Monday.

The ministry will soon send a delegation of experts to these states to identify sites for setting up such projects over the next five years.

Central Electricity Authority Chairman Rakesh Nath said the government had already finalised coal linkages for power projects of 37,000 Mw capacity that would come up during the 11th Plan period.