UP govt warns BHEL against delays in power units' renovation

Upset over delay in renovation of power generation units by Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) the Uttar Pradesh government has warned its officers of 'stern action' if they failed to complete the work as per schedule.

"During a high-level meeting to review progress of power projects, Chief Secretary Atul Kumar Gupta while expressing his displeasure over delay warned that the government will take stern action if renovation work was not completed as per schedule," said an official spokesperson here.

The meeting was attended by the top officials of NTPC, BHEL, UP Power Corporation Limited and Utpadan Nigam.
    
Gupta attracted attention of BHEL chairman B P Rao towards inordinate delay in setting up of Harduaganj extension, Parichcha extension and Anapara D projects and renovation of 1000 MW units at at Obra B.
    
He said that it was unfortunate BHEL failed to complete works given to it in a bid to increase power generation in the state.
    
BHEL chairman Rao while admitting that the projects were delayed assured that work would be done on war footing to complete the projects as per the schedule.
    
He said that renovation of five units of 200 MW each at Obra was delayed as BHEL's contract with a Russian company failed. Rao assured that projects will start operations from February 2011 and would be completed by December next year.
    
Energy Secretary Navneet Sehgal said that if BHEL failed to complete the projects as per the schedule the state would contemplate on alternatives.