Mayawati Calls on PM; Demands Rs 2000 Crore for Power Supply

For the 10 hours of power supply in 58 drought-hit disctricts, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, during her meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has demanded a fund of Rs 2000 crore.

According to official sources, she said that for10 hours power supply to the drought-hit districts of the state including that of Bundelkhand region, the state government was presently buying power at the rate of Rs 8 per unit and she demanded that the Centre pay Rs 2000 crore for buying power.

In addition, the chief minister also sought a “positive response” from the Centre in approving a Rs 7789 crore package which state government has submitted to the Agriculture ministry to carry out various long-term and short-term measures.

Sources said that the Mayawati took up the matter of insfrastructure development in drought-prone areas and also referred to the AS Samra Committee recommendations on the topic.

She sought a positive response from the Prime Minister on a Rs 3866 crore package sent by the UP government to the Centre to set up power and irrigation facilities in the drought prone and drought hit districts based on the Samra committee recommendations.

She lamented that the Centre has provided UP only with Rs 15.5 crore package to develop communication network, including roads in naxal prone districts. UP had demanded Rs 84 crore for the purpose.

Mayawati also informed Singh that UP has prepared a standard operating procedure (SOP) to deal with incidents like the Mumbai terror attacks.