The Hindu Business Line : `Maharashtra can boast of surplus power in 5 years'

THE Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh, has said that the power crisis in the State cannot be resolved in a day or two; but the State Government is taking all steps to ensure that Maharashtra becomes a surplus power State.

Talking to presspersons, Mr Deshmukh said Maharashtra could boast of surplus power within five years.

He said the State Government has signed the memorandum of understanding with eight private parties to generate about 12,500 MW of power.

Mr Deshmukh said the power crisis this year was due to the fact that there has been no power generation in the State for the past few years. The reason is "we were embroiled in the Enron tangle," he said. He also said necessary instructions had been given to the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) to ensure that load shedding, including in the rural areas, was according to the plan.

The Chief Minister said a number of complaints had been received from several quarters regarding the power problem.

On the current spat between Mr Sharad Pawar, NCP President, and Mr Madhav Godbole, former Union Home Secretary, Mr Deshmukh said the Godbole Committee had been appointed by the State Government and it was not proper to blame the energy crisis on Mr Godbole. "There is no connection between the power crisis in the State and the report that Mr Godbole has tabled." The report has also been discussed in the Cabinet, he said.

For the past few days, there has been a crossfire between Mr Pawar and Mr Godbole regarding the energy crisis in the State. Few days ago, Mr Pawar blamed Mr Godbole for the crisis. Mr Godbole refuted the charges saying he had just submitted his report and that his recommendations were not binding on the State Government.

On whether any action would be taken against the MSEB officials who had assaulted media persons, Mr Deshmukh said he had spoken to the Police Commissioner and had asked the police to take immediate action.

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