Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia today assured all possible help to Madhya Pradesh in electricity generation as he dedicated the 1,200 KV ultra high voltage and AC test centre here to the nation.

He said the Government had set a target of additional 90,000 MW power production during the 12th Plan (2012-17).

Electricity production which stood at a mere 1,370 MW at the time of independence, has gone up to 2.10 lakh MW after 65 years for which credit must go to Government companies, he said.

Scindia said power transmission through the power grid, which currently stands at 28,000 MW, is targeted to rise to 48,000 MW in the current plan period.

A total of Rs 12 lakh crore are proposed to be spent out of which Rs 7 lakh crore would be used on electricity production, Rs 3 lakh crore on transmission and Rs 2 crore on distribution, the Minister said.

Former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi first thought of having power grids in the country and four of them were set up during his time, Scindia said.

Four power grids have already been linked, he said, adding only the southern grid had to be linked which would be accomplished by January 2014.

He said with the linking of southern grid, India will have the biggest grid in the world.

Scindia, who is the Union Minister of State with independent charge of Power Ministry, said there was electricity problem in Madhya Pradesh after Chhattisgarh was carved out of it as most of the power stations went to the latter.

He also said three power plant stations would be established, in Vindhyachal (1,000 MW), Khargone (1,300 MW) and Gaurwara (1,500 MW), by the NTPC.

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