Gehlot demands additional 500mw of power from central quota for Rajasthan

New Delhi - Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has demanded an additional 500 megawatts of power from the Central Government’s unallocated quota for his state.

Conveying his grave concern over the poor level of power supply in the country, especially in the northern and northeastern states due to frequent grid disturbance, Gehlot justified his demand for more power in view of his state experiencing severe drought conditions that were having an adverse impact on the seasonal Rabi crop.

Speaking up during a meeting between Union Power Minister M. Veerappa Moily, chief ministers and state power ministers here, Gehlot stated that during the last 50 years, Rajasthan has faced and experience severe drought conditions, and in 2012, was suffering the effects of a poor monsoon.

Reiterating his government’s commitment to abide by the Central Government’s decision to strengthen power supply in the state in the future, Gehlot said he had been assured by the Central Government that it would take all precautions to arrange better grid supply management. The Rajasthan Government, he said, would also give all possible help.

Gehlot also welcomed the initiative taken by Union Power Minister Moily to discuss this important issue.

Gehlot said the enquiry committee constituted by the Union Power Ministry would bring out the technical reasons for the recent grid disturbances.

He, however, insisted that the key factors responsible for poor power supply were the failure of the monsoon and the substantial increase in demand for power in the northern states.

Gehlot reassured that Rajasthan is committed to following established norms of grid management as decided by the Central and State Governments.

He revealed that Rajasthan would generate over 11500 MW power in the 12th Five-Year plan for the state.

The state has sanctioned nine projects for a total generation capacity of 7750 megawatt to be commissioned in the 12th Five-Year-Plan.

Out of this, five projects of 2 X 660 MW capacities are based on coal and three projects of 330 MW and one project of 160 MW would be gassed based.

In addition to above, 3840 MW capacity is to be installed in the private sector.

Timely allocation of coal and gas and also clearance from the environment department for these projects is essential said Gehlot.

Gehlot stated that priority has been given by the state government to provide electricity to the remote rural and weaker sections of the society.

The state government has increased financial support for power distribution companies from Rs.2566 crores in 2010-11 to Rs.4000 crores in 2011-12, and to Rs.7400 crores in 2012-13.

Further financial support to the distribution companies will be increased as far as possible, he added.

He also said that several steps have been taken under "Financial Restructuring Plan" to improve services in these power distribution companies.

Under this plan, distribution companies reduced transmission and distribution losses by two percent in fiscal 2011-12.

Rajasthan’s Secretary for Power Naresh Pal Gangwar, the Chairman and the Managing Director of the Rajasthan State Electricity Board, S. K. Agarwal and K.L. Meena and other senior officers of the state participated in the meeting.