Chhattisgarh to stay power-cut-free state for 20 yrs: Raman Singh, Chief Minister…

• Providing the cheapest energy to consumers, mineral-rich Chhattisgarh will remain a no-power-cut state for the next 20 years, Chief Minister Raman Singh has said. "There is no power cut (today) and there will be no power cut in Chhattisgarh in the next 20 years - be it industry, agriculture or domestic sector," Singh said. The young state, which was created out of Madhya Pradesh eight years ago, would add power generation capacity of 3,000 MW every year for the next two-three years, he said.

• "In 2012-13, we are adding 3,000 MW... say around per year 2,000-3,000 MW," Singh said. The state is expected to add over 20,000 MW by 2016. It has the potential to produce up to 50,000 MW. Per capita power consumption is one of the key indicators of development. This is where Chhatisgarh has shown a marked improvement, the Chief Minister of the BJP-ruled state said. "Per capita power consumption in 2001 was 600 units. Now, it is 1,560 units, which is better than Delhi and next to Gujarat," he added.

• As the state electricity board levies minimal wheeling charges, it can transport and sell power to deficit areas in any part of India, Singh said. The country's largest power producer NTPC, which has a generation capacity of over 35,000 MW, operates two of its biggest thermal power plants in the state - Korba (2,600 MW) and Sipat (1,660 MW). The advantage with the state is that the power producers can source coal right at the pit, as it has rich coal reserves. This is also the main reason for the cost-effectiveness of generation activities in the state.

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