Mayawati writes to PM, seeks UMPP for UP

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding the setting up of an ultra mega power project (UMPP) in the state and priority in allotting coal and gas linkages for it.

The state government has a plan of increasing power generation by 25,000 MW to make UP a power-surplus state in the next few years, but lack of coal is an impediment, Mayawati said in her letter to the Prime Minister.

"Priority in allotment of coal block and gas linkages should be given to states like UP, which do not have resources for hydro-generation, coal mines or coastal areas," she said in the letter, released today.

Pointing out that the economic growth of UP is directly linked to that of the country, Mayawati suggested that the ministries concerned should consider amending policies regarding allocating coal and gas to improve the power situation in the state.

"Kindly intervene in the matter immediately and ask the power and coal ministries to issue necessary amendments to coal and gas allotment policies," she said.

Mayawati blamed successive central governments for the power crisis in UP.

"No concrete measures (have been) taken to solve the power crisis in the state during the last 60 years," she said in the letter.