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Counter-guarantee delay likely to hit Cogentrix

The Cogentrix power project near Mangalore in Karnataka will be further delayed for want of the Union government's counter-guarantee, according to indications given by Power Minister P R Kumaramangalam.

Kumaramangalam said his ministry would be able to act only after the case pending in the Supreme Court was disposed of.

Asked about the supply of additional 100 MW power to Karnataka, he said the supply had already resumed. However, there would be ups and downs (fluctuations) following technical problems in the feeders. The controversy over payment by the Karnataka government for the POEER supplied by the Centre had already been sorted out, he said.

Regarding his statement in Parliament on the payment issue, which had created a controversy, he said when the statement was made in the House, the payment against the supply of 100 MW of power was not cleared, but subsequently it was made good by Karnataka.

Kumaramangalam said the proposed sanctions by the international community following the nuclear tests by India would not affect the progress of the Enron project in Maharashtra as it had already been approved and there could be no possibility of sanctions on sanctioned funds.

On measures taken to improve the power position in Karnataka, Kumaramangalam said he would visit the state soon to meet Chief Minister J H Patel and review the power situation.