Akhilesh orders expediting work on three power plants

Projects in Lalitpur, Bara and Anpara D to add 5,000 Mw

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday ordered expediting the construction of three thermal power plants, totalling almost 5,000 megawatt (Mw).

The projects — Lalitpur (1,980 Mw), Bara (1,980 Mw) and Anpara D (1000 Mw) — are expected to start generation from next year.

Yadav also asked the energy department’s principal secretary to visit the project sites to expedite the work.

The Lalitpur and Bara projects in Allahabad are being developed by Bajaj Hindusthan and Jaypee Associates, respectively. The Anpara D project in Sonebhadra is being developed by UP Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam.

The state would get energy generated from the Lalitpur project, while its share would be 1,782 Mw from Bara.

The state has been grappling with a summer power shortage of 3,000 Mw.

UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) gets power from state-owned thermal and hydro electric plants and from government and private sector plants. The power production capacity in Uttar Pradesh stands at 8,250 Mw.

UPPCL had lost Rs 25,000 crore due to rampant pilferage.

The aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses in Uttar Pradesh were 30 per cent during 2013-14.

AT&C losses are the sum of technical losses, commercial losses and shortage due to non-realisation of the billed amount. It also includes power theft and losses during transmission and distribution of power.

UPPCL has undertaken a drive against power theft. So far, 1.3 million new connections have been given across UP.