PSUs ready to invest more; want govt to address coal issue

Talking to reporters after the meeting, NTPC Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Arup Roy Choudhury said the company plans to invest Rs 20,000 crore in the current fiscal and was confident of the capex plan.

"Discussion (was) on speedy achievement on capex and (we) are confident of achieving capex commitment," he added.

Roy Choudhury said, "We also discussed problems related to coal in the presence of coal Secretary." He also expressed the hope that there could be some direction from the Finance Minister after this meeting on the fuel linkage.

According to BHEL Chairman and Managing Director B Prasada Rao, "Order book at the end of Q1 is at Rs 1.35 lakh crore. Our basic trouble is the various problems plaguing the power sector. Our investments are connected to the power sector. Clearances and also coal linkages continues to be a problem."

The meeting was called by Chidambaram to nudge bluechip PSUs - sitting on cash pile of about Rs 1.8 lakh crore - to expedite investment plans. It was attended by Secretaries of different ministries dealing with the infrastructure sector.

Coal India CMD S Narsing Rao said the company was committed to invest Rs 40,000 crore in 2012-13, provided certain conditions were met. MORE