8 Sep : Exuding confidence that the Indo-US nuclear deal will allow India to meet its future energy needs, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said the pact will put the country in the league of elite nations which dominate the atomic power sector.
"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s achievement on Indo-US nuclear deal is historic as India would be fulfilling its energy needs in near future," Gandhi told a gathering after inaugurating the Barsingsar Lignite mine and Thermal Power Station, 30 kms from Bikaner in Rajasthan.
Hailing the nuclear deal, the UPA Chairperson said "India will march along with the developed nation in nuclear energy sector".Gandhi said the first unit of 125-MW lignite power plant would be ready next year and would benefit at least five districts of Rajasthan providing electricity to farmers and industries.
Gandhi said the two units of Barsingsar lignite power and mine project would create thousands of job for youths and skilled labourers.Pointing to the Rs 65000-crore loan waiver that will benefit four crore farmers, Gandhi said "the Centre is committed for the welfare and uplift of poor people."
"The Central government has also made a corpus fund of Rs 25000 crores for farmers to meet any exigencies," Gandhi said and promised to introduce similar welfare schemes in future too.
Two thermal units of 125 MW each would usher in consistent power supply to the people, all round progress and prosperity in the state, she said.Gandhi said the lignite power station’s generation capacity would be increased to 1000 MW which would benefit 12 districts in Rajasthan.
"The central government is working in a transparent manner and anyone can use the Right to Information Act to assess the UPA government’s work," the Congress chief said.
Observing that the central government provided 100 days job to people in villages under NREGA, Gandhi said interests of tribals have also been protected by giving them legal rights to forest resources.
Bagdoria said the lignite power project would produce 60 lakh units of electricity per day March 2009.The coal minister said the power station would create 2000 direct job and 6,000 indirect job opportunities.
Union Mines Minister Sheesh Ram Ola accused the BJP government in Rajasthan of failing to fulfil the numerous promises it had made in its poll manifesto in 2003.Former Chief Minister and AICC General Secretary Ashok Gehlot alleged that the BJP government had failed to add a single unit of power during its tenure.
Gehlot said during his term, the government made available 1750 MW of additional power in the state.