Wednesday, March 29 2006 13:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Emphasising the need for a robust power system to achieve desired economic expansion and providing electricity to all, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Mar 29, 2006) said he would soon convene a meeting of Chief Ministers for evolving a political consensus on various issues.

He said this while launching work on the Rs 3,780 crore Barh Transmission system to be developed by Powergrid Corporation Limited (PGCIL).

"I know that we need to do a lot in the power sector to provide electricity to all and at affordable rates. I am convening a conference of all state chief ministers to form a political consensus," Singh said.

"Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said the conference of chief ministers was expected to be held after the assembly elections in various states. This could be possible only in the first week of June," he said.

Work on Barh Transmission System was launched in the presence of former Prime Minister Chandra Sekhar, who represents Ballia Lok Sabha constituency, and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Barh Transmission system has been planned to transfer power from Barh generation project of NTPC to the beneficiaries in Eastern, Northern and Western regions.

Addressing the gathering, Sonia Gandhi expressed concernover the lack of economic development in eastern Uttar Pradesh and other smaller towns and exuded confidence that such projects would bridge the gap.



Gandhi said that a lot more needs to be done in the power sector and hailed Singh for the UPA government's performance in crucial areas like power.

Providing electricity to all by 2012 is a great challenge and overcoming this would make India, the world's largest democracy, a global economic power," she said.

Power from the Barh generation project would be pooled at Ballia for its onward transfer to load centres in Northern Region through a high capacity 2,500 HVDC bipole line, Singh said, adding Ballia is being developed as a power hub for receiving power from major generation projects in Eastern region.

Singh said the UPA government has undertaken a majorproject under Bharat Nirman to uplift the rural economy. "With this kind of investment in Barh transmission system I am sure life at places like Ballia will undergo a major change."