Gujarat offers 2,000mw power to other states

The state government offered around 2,000mw power of idle power generation capacity in the state, to other states, provided the Centre supplies gas for powering the plants. The proposal was made by CM Modi before the central team comprising union ministers Sharad Pawar and Jairam Ramesh.

“Gujarat is a power surplus state, but 2,000mw of power generation capacity is lying idle because of gas shortage. If gas is provided to these projects, the power generated can be supplied to the Northern states, which are facing a serious energy crisis,” Modi said. The CM also pointed out that the Gujarat government was willing to supply the power to other states for one year.

However, in the memorandum submitted to the central team, the state government said that the idle 2000mw capacity needed to be utilised to meet increased demand for power from agricultural sector.

“Domestic gas for additional generation is not available, while imported R-LNG is costly. Power generation using R-LNG would result into additional cost of Rs1,600 crore. We request the Centre to bear 50% of the cost,” the government stated in the memorandum.

The state government has estimated total cost of providing one lakh agricultural power connections at Rs1,700 crore and sought assistance of Rs850 crore (50%) from the centre. Interestingly, the government had announced in the budget that it would provide one lakh agricultural power connections in 2012-13. More than 30,000 connections have already been provided, according to officials.