Develop Sufficient Power Capacity by 2013: Chouhan
Bhopal — Reviewing the power situation in the state at a meeting in the state capital, Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan Sunday instructed officials to develop production capacity to ensure round-the-clock supply of electricity in populated areas and a minimum eight hour supply for agricultural operations.
Chouhan emphasised the need to maintain adequate power supply in the cities and villages as well keeping in view the convenience of the students appearing in the annual examinations which are in progress throughout the state.
The meeting was attended by the Finance Minister, Raghavji, Minister of State for Energy, Rajendra Shukla, Chief Secretary, Avani Vaish, Chairman, State Electricity Board, Rakesh Sahni, Principal Secretary, Finance, GP Singhal, Energy Secretary, SPS Parihar, Secretary to Chief Minister, Anurag Jain and Chairmen-cum-Managing Directors of Power Distribution and Generation Companies.
Expressing displeasure over reduction in plant load factor, Chouhan said that power generation companies should set a target to increase the plant load factor at least upto 75 percent in the next three years by constantly reviewing the maintenance of existing power plants in the state.
Chouhan told officials that if the targets were not met action will be taken against the erring officers by fixing the accountability.
Chouhan directed the Finance Department to extend necessary support to the Energy Department with regard to power generation in the state.
He also asked the Energy Department to explore the new financial resources to meet its requirement of funds by assessing its necessary financial assistance in the next three years and also exhorted the power distribution companies to initiate measures to increase their revenue.
Chouhan also reviewed the progress of feeder separation work. He said that the feeder separation work should be essentially completed in the next three years. With this step, it will help facilitate the supply of sufficient electricity in the populated areas round the clock and for undertaking agricultural operation.
