Haryana Seeks Canada'S Aid In Power Sector

To make up for the power shortage, Haryana has planned several new power generation projects totalling an additional installed capacity of about 2,700 mw. This will take the total capacity from 2,347 mw to 3,122 mw next year.

There are proposals to set up 26 power projects in the private sector in different industrial estates, Gupta said at a luncheon meeting sponsored by Ernst and Young. The new power projects planned are coal thermal units (in Yamuna Nagar and Hissar), super thermal power units and hydel power projects, Gupta told representatives of a dozen Canadian companies at the meeting.

He said the state was also looking for investment in other infrastructure sectors like roads, bridges and telecommunications.

 

Gupta said the approach of the Centre and the state governments to foreign investors have undergone a sea change. We are now asking you to invest in industrial development.

Any Canadian company that thinks of foreign investment cannot ignore India, said Satya Podar, a partner in Ernst & Young, which has established an India desk here. He said India offered tremendous opportunities in virtually every sector, especially in infrastructure areas. The India desk helps Canadian companies to exploit business opportunities in India, he said.

Later, during a separate meeting with the NRIs at the Indian consulate, Gupta mentioned the need for global tenders in the large power projects.

Shamsher Singh, a senior consultant in the ministry of economic development, trade and tourism in Ontario pointed out that investment by companies was at their own risk, and submitting tenders was a costly route and could be avoided.

Gupta said tenders were advisable since some decisions by the government can be questioned. He, however, conceded that negotiated agreements were cheaper. Projects up to Rs 400 crore could be decided by the government without tenders, but power projects beyond 110 mw capacity required global tendering, he said.

Harish Uppal, a consultant engineer said NRIs have acquired extensive knowledge and experience in their chosen fields and are widely recognised in Canada. He suggested the Indian government should consider Indo-Canadian companies to assist in the development of infrastructure because of their expertise.

Other members of the Haryana team were RS Verma, principal secretary to the Chief Minister of Haryana and chairman of the Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation and ML Tayal, secretary for industry, urban development and environment. The delegation also met Len Crispino, chairman of Ontario International Trade Corporation.