Akhilesh upset at BHEL delay in power project works

Concerned at the delay in the construction of the 1,000-MW (2X500 MW) Anpara D thermal project in Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday directed Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited to complete the work by June 2013. The delay in the execution was causing cost-overrun and would hit power generation as well as development, Mr. Yadav said reviewing the progress of construction works undertaken by BHEL in the Anpara D, Obra and Harduaganj power projects. An official spokesman said BHEL has undertaken construction works, costing about Rs. 9,000 crore, for the State’s power projects. It was the Mayawati government, which approved the Central PSU’s offer to build the boiler, turbine and generator (BTG) of the Anpara D project in September 2007. Pointing out that the State was going through a serious power crisis, Mr. Yadav said though the agreement with BHEL on modernisation and expansion of the Obra thermal station was signed in 2006, work on only one unit had been completed. He was irked that owing to the delay the power plant was not running to its full capacity, the spokesman said. BHEL Chairman of Managing Director B.P. Rao, who was present at the meeting at the Chief Minister’s official residence here, assured him that the works, which include modernisation and expansion of the Harduaganj project, would be completed on time. ref: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/akhilesh-airs-concern-over-delay-in-completion-of-power-projects/article4064806.ece