THE Punjab government is holding parleys with neighbouring Uttarakhand for joint hydel power generation. Punjab chief minister Mr Prakash Singh Badal has held talks with his Uttarakhand counterpart Mr B C Khanduri to work out the modalities to set up the power projects in Uttarakhand. Expressing optimism, Punjab chief secretary, Mr Ramesh Inder Singh said the two chief ministers had agreed in principle to venture into joint power projects. He said Punjab was contemplating to set up jointly with Uttarakhand a 500-mw hydel power plant in the hill state. “The two chief ministers have met and have agreed in principle to set up the proposed power project. We have urged the Uttarakhand government to suggest us the site where a project of 500 mw size can be put up,” he said. Further discussions in the matter were in the offing, he said and added that now the Uttarakhand government would need to revert to Punjab in the matter. Uttarakhand has identified a potential of 20,000 mw of hydel power in the state. The state currently is generating only 2,819 mw power. Mr Singh said Punjab was also in discussion with the coastal states for putting up thermal power plants in coastal areas in joint venture with the central public sector undertakings (CPSUs). Discussions were on with the Gujarat and Maharashtra governments. The government, it is learnt, is also in talks with the Gujarat-based Adani Group for setting up a 2,000-mw thermal power project at Mundra. The Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has been appointed as a consultant for this venture. However, for the Mundra project, the government will need to go in for a tariff bid. Coastal areas are being considered in view of imported coal as a feedstock, which may turn out to be cheaper if sourced from Asian countries. Punjab government is also contemplating holding talks with state governments where power projects could be put up at the pit heads. According to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the demand for power in Punjab is expected to increase to 11,000 mw by 2012. The state’s total generation capacity as of now is 6,088 mw. Only recently, the Punjab government has cleared a 1,200-mw thermal power project at Nabha and a 1,800-mw thermal power project at Talwandi Sabo. The Badal government has already launched the 600-mw Goindwal thermal power project and proposes to generate 500 mw of power this year at Lehra Mohabbat. The SAD-BJP government is committed to provide round-the-clock power supply in Punjab within a span of five years and make the state surplus in power. Recently, the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) sent a proposal to the Badal government for putting up a 1,200-mw thermal power plant at Rajpura in Patiala district on BOOT basis. POWER MOVES Chief ministers of Punjab and Uttarakhand have agreed in principle to set up a 500-mw hydel project Punjab is also in discussion with Gujarat and Maharashtra for putting up thermal power plants in coastal areas in joint venture with CPSUs The Punjab government has cleared a 1,200-mw thermal power project at Nabha and a 1,800-mw thermal power project at Talwandi Sabo recently