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Power situation cannot be improved, admits Gaur

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL, FEB. 10. The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Babulal Gaur, said today that the power situation could not be improved up to the desired level due to circumstances beyond the control of the State Government.

The Chief Minister said there is a huge gap between demand and supply of electricity since only 40 per cent of the total demand was being met through electricity generated within the State. For bridging the gap between demand and supply, the State has to rely on the Centre and purchase extra power from other sources, he told the House.

Since other parts of the country were also struggling with the power crisis, it was difficult to buy extra electricity through bilateral negotiations, the Chief Minister said adding that the power situation in Madhya Pradesh had worsened due to the Centre's decision to reduce from its discretionary quota the State's share by 353 MW.

These hurdles notwithstanding, all efforts have been geared towards ensuring maximum three-phase power supply in the rural areas, Mr. Gaur told the House and emphasised that the results in this direction have been much better than what the situation was in the past.

The Chief Minister announced the new schedule of power cuts from February 13-14 onwards keeping in view the students and their examinations as top priority.

With the scheduled cuts announced in the Assembly today, it would be possible to supply eight hours of uninterrupted 3-phase power to farmers as well as students from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. every day, said Mr. Gaur.

The Leader of Opposition, Jamuna Devi, was prompt in countering the Chief Minister by saying that Mr. Gaur has the habit of making announcements that he cannot fulfil. On his assertion that the Centre had reduced 353 MW of power supply to Madhya Pradesh, Ms. Devi said: "What can the Centre do if Madhya Pradesh was not prepared to purchase extra power?"

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