Bhopal:April 4, 2008:It is a solid proof of state government’s firm determination of making all possible efforts to supply power to the consumers as well as its promptness that in the month of March alone, Rs 897 crore 25 lakh have been paid in cash by it to Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board and its different companies. The Chief Minister, Shri Shivraj Singh has been alert that there are no financial constraints in power management. For this purpose, not only he
himself kept a close watch over the situation but also continued to supervise the process till the amount was paid. Meanwhile, a 500 MW capacity power unit in the state, which was lying out of order since March 8, is going to resume power generation within a couple of days. This would lead to improvement in the present situation.
The present state government has never hesitated in spending funds on power management. The government has remained alert that the work of MPSEB and its companies responsible for power generation, transmission and distribution continues unhindered. It was due to this serious resolve on the part of the state government that in March, it paid Rs 387 crore to MPSEB alone. Out of this Rs 287 crore was paid for tariff subsidy and Rs 100 crore against short-term loans.
The concept of the state government about releasing funds to power companies was also clear-cut. Accordingly, Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company was paid Rs 13 crore 90 lakh under Tribal Sub-Plan, Rs 10 crore 60 lakh under Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan, Rs 78 crore 22 lakh as transmission equity and Rs 28 crore 27 lakh under other heads.
Similarly, Madhya Pradesh Power Generation Companies were given Rs 150 crore as equity for two Satpura Plant units of 250 MW capacity each, Rs 95 crore 19 lakh for Malwa units, and Rs 11 crore 41 lakh was paid against state loan. Thus, the Power Generation Company has been paid Rs 256 crore 60 lakh in all.
Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company was paid Rs 34 crore nine lakh during the month of March. Out of this, Rs 31 crore 49 lakh was paid for Sub-Transmission Normal Scheme and Rs two crore 60 lakh under Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (APDRP).
The Western Zone Power Company was paid Rs 23 crore 40 lakh under Tribal Sub-Plan, Rs eight crore 95 lakh under Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan, Rs 15 crore 89 lakh under STN and Rs 35 crore 60 lakh under APDRP.
The Eastern Zone Power Company was given away Rs 15 crore 10 lakh from Tribal Sub-Plan head, Rs five crore 80 lakh under Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan, Rs 16 crore 30 lakh under STN and Rs five crore 80 lakh under APDRP.