EGoM on UMPP postponed

The meeting of an Empowered Group of Ministers (EGOM) on ultra mega power projects (UMPP), scheduled for January 24, has been postponed, a power ministry official said.

"In the last EGoM meet, it was decided that the Power Ministry would seek the Attorney General's opinion on the issue of diversion of surplus coal from the blocks allotted to the Sasan UMPP in Madhya Pradesh to other projects. So, what is there to discuss now...Another meeting can only happen after the legal opinion is sought," he said.

Government auditor Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), found some discrepancies in the bid documents of the 4,000-MW Sasan project and had raised certain queries to the Power Ministry which in turn referred the matter to the EGOM.

The EGoM, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, comprises Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal.

The government has so far allotted four UMPP projects, three of which have been bagged by Reliance Power -- Sasan, Krishnapatnam and Tilaiya. One such project, at Mundra, is being developed by Tata Power.