47 MoUs inked to produce 58,000 MW power in next 5 yrs: MP CM

With a view to emerge as a major power hub in the country and to supply 24-hours electricity to the people of the state, Madhya Pradesh has inked 47 MOUs to produce 58,000 MW of power in next few years. 

"Though power generation in the state has doubled in the last seven years, the demand too has increased from 4652 MW in 2002-03 to 7786 MW in 2010-11 and to bridge this gap and emerge as a power hub in the country, the state has inked 47 MOUs to produce 58,000 MW of power in next few years," Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister , Shivraj Singh Chouhan told PTI. Chouhan, who is the first non-Congress Chief Minister to complete five years in power on November 29, said that at present 13 power projects are being constructed and in the next three years 5000 MW of additional power will be generated in the state. "By the year 2013, Madhya Pradesh would supply 24-hours power to the people in the state," he claimed. Referring to the state's industrialisation, he said due to the special efforts being made by the state government, production has started in various units which were set up with an investment of nearly Rs 6500 crore. 

"In this financial year, upto March 2011, units with an investment of nearly Rs 40,000 crore will start production in the state," Chouhan said adding earlier the state was known as a BIMARU state, but now it has become a developing state. 

He also informed that a 70-point roadmap of the state's development was charted out by the BJP government and the same was presented in the State Assembly during its special session. 

On the issue of condition of roads in the state, he said that the condition of state highways is quite good, while the situation of National Highways which comes under the purview of the Central government are not good as they are not being maintained in a proper manner. "The Union Surface Transport Minister, Kamal Nath has assured us to improve the condition of National Highways by February 2011," Chouhan said. 

To a question on corruption in the state, he admitted that it has amalgamated not only in the system in the entire country, but also become a practise. It cannot be curbed just like this and therefore, the state has introduced 'e-tendering and e-payment' facility in the state and the same was effective in curbing the menace. 

When asked on alleged step-motherly treatment being meted out to the state on the issue of allocation of coal and other central schemes, Chouhan said, "Despite having coal mines in the state, the Centre is advising us to import coal for our power plants in the state." Similarly, Andhra Pradesh gets eight times more funds than Madhya Pradesh under Indira Awas Yojna and also the state was not being allocated adequate foodgrain for the people. 

He said that he doesn't want any confrontation with the Centre on the issue in the federal structure and had met Prime Minister and other central ministers on the issue many times. "If this situation persists and people of the state continues to suffer, then he will also not sit quietly and would seek permission of the party leadership for holding a fast on the issue," Chouhan added.