The Hindu Business Line : Tatas offer to supply power from plants outside Maharashtra

Mr Ratan Tata, Chairman of the group, who met the Chief Minister, Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh, offered to supply power from Tata Power Company's (TPC) plants in Belgaum in Karnataka and Jojobera in Jharkhand, a State Government release said.

TPC is also prepared to give technical and engineering expertise to the State.

During his meeting with the Chief Minster, which was also attended by the Energy Minister, Mr Dilip Walse-Patil, and senior officials, Mr Tata offered to provide short-term (immediate), medium-term (18 months) and long-term (36 months) support to the Government, the release added.

Mr Deshmukh said that the Government would consider the various technical and engineering recommendations made by the Tata group.

A joint meeting of power companies, industry associations, and power experts would be held to address the power situation in the State, said the release, quoting the Chief Minister.

"Mr Tata has also offered to help in all possible ways so to prevent shutdown of industries and avoid adverse impact on the investments in the State."

The presentation made by Tata Power pointed out that spare capacity of captive power plants needed to be unlocked in the State.

Energy conservation practices in equipment, air-conditioning, lighting, and pumping were also discussed in the meeting.

The officials said that if 10 million homes in Maharashtra could replace one 100 W incandescent bulb with a 21 W compact fluorescent lamp, load reduction could be around 800 MW.

They stressed on the need to subsidise efficient pumping systems rather than electricity supply.

Single phasing in agriculture feeders and segregation of industrials feeders from other feeders was another suggestion offered by the group officials.

They also urged the Government to assist select industries that could set up or augment liquid fuel captive power projects so as to reduce the burden on the Maharashtra State Electricity Board.

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