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Patel also sought allotment of domestic coal mines to state electric utilities before auctioning them to the private sector to enable lower production costs for electric utilities.
"Imported coal will have direct impact on increased in electric costs generated through ultra mega power project," Patel said inaugurating the event.
He also called for separate distribution lines for supply of electricity for agriculture sector to reduce transmission losses. The state currently has a surplus power of 700MW but there are no buyers as state utilities in India lack resources to buy power.
The power generation capacity in the state will double in the next three years from 10,000MW now, he added.
Speaking on gas grid in Gujarat, Patel said 26 districts in the state would be connected through pipeline network in next 12 months.
Earlier, delivering his key note address, Gireesh Pradhan, additional secretary, ministry of power said out of the planned target of 78,000MW in XI Five Year Plan (2007-12), 20000MW has already been achieved.
He also added that, at present, Government of India has prepared 100 detail project reports for hydro power projects, which can be shown to state government.
The ministry at its recent review meeting expects high level of certainty of achieving 75% or 63,000MW of the planned target in the XI Five Year Plan, he said.
Balance target could be achieved through hard work and best efforts, Pradhan added.
By Rahul Kamat
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