Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday promised to take up the problems of West Bengal?s power sector in the National Development Council (NDC) meeting to be held by October end.
The problem lies mainly in the R120,000-crore loss so far accumulated by all the states together. The Centre is considering coming out with a comprehensive mechanism to solve the problem. In India, several states that are reeling with the problem. ?We need an integrated approach, that I believe will help in solving these problems in the twelfth five year plan,? Mukherjee said flagging off the commercial operation of NTPC?s 500 mw sixth unit at Farakka.
NTPC Farakka?s capacity has gone up to 2,100 mw with the commissioning of the sixth 500 mw unit.
While coal for this unit would come from Hura mines under Eastern Coalfields, NTPC would use 20% imported coal for the project. The power behemoth has tied up with Central Inland water Transport Corporation to transport imported coal from port to the plant, NTPC chairman and managing director Arup Roy Chowdhury said. Mukherjee said power sector would get special focus in 12th Plan. ?We will finalise the draft at the chief ministers? meeting in Delhi by October end,? he said.