Akhilesh govt fast-tracks power projects totalling 5,280 Mw

Projects include Bara, Meja and Ghatampur thermal power projects

The Uttar Pradesh government has put on fast-track, proposed coal-fired energy projects totalling 5,280 Mw to tide over the persistent power crisis.

These projects include, Bara (1,980 Mw), Meja (1,320 Mw) and Ghatampur (1,980 Mw) thermal power projects scheduled for commissioning during 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2017-18 respectively.

UP chief secretary Jawed Usmani on Thursday directed officials to iron out irritants in the way of these projects, so that they meet timelines.

The Akhilesh Yadav government is targeting augmenting power generation capacity by over 12,000 Mw with the help of private and state sector projects by 2017. (See table).

Sl No	Name of project	Capacity (Mw)	Commissioning
1	Anpara D	1,000	2014-15
2	Srinagar Jal Vidyut Pariyojna	330	2014-15
3	Bara thermal project	1,980	2014-15
4	Lalitpur thermal project	1,980	2015-16
5	Central sector	1,000	2013-17
6	Case I bidding	6,000	2016-17
Total		12,290

This seems a tall order in prevailing situation, when most projects have failed to make any significant strides. Besides, there is lingering problem of getting coal linkages for the proposed projects.

During the Mayawati regime, the government had signed memorandum of understanding (MoUs) for setting up power projects totalling 10,500 Mw in private sector. However, these companies could not secure coal linkage.

The Uttar Pradesh government on June 7, 2012 granted 18 months to these companies to secure the coal linkage. Recently, these companies were again provided time for the same.

With such ambitious goals, the government is aiming to provide 24-hour and 16-hour electricity supply in urban and rural areas, respectively by 2016-17, when the state would witness Assembly elections.