Uttar Pradesh envisages $1.8B power budget

The Uttar Pradesh government has proposed budgetary provisions of US$1.8 billion towards various projects in the power sector during the fiscal 2011-12.

Finance Minister Lalji Verma stated this while presenting the state budget for year 2011-12 here today in the state assembly.

Out of this amount, US$278.9 million has been earmarked for augmenting the generation capacity in the state. An amount of US$44 million has been proposed to be kept aside for thermal power project being set up at Ghatampur, Kanpur in a joint collaboration with Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited.

By the end of 11th Five Year Plan, the state hopes to get 2000 MW from the state-run projects, 2130 MW from the private sector, 450 MW from MoU route projects and 1571 MW from various projects being implemented by the central agencies, the Minister told the House.

Presently, the state was not in a comfortable position as far as the power sector is concerned and a huge gap exists between demand and supply.