The Planning Commission has written to the Delhi government asking it to consider aspects like gas supply and price before sanctioning power projects in the national capital.
Flagging the priorities for development of Delhi during the 11th Plan period, Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia wrote to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit that "power projects in the pipeline would need very close monitoring keeping in mind the uncertainties about the supply of gas at a reasonable price."
Anil Ambani-run Reliance Energy, which administers two distribution companies in the national capital -- BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd and BSES Yamuna Power Ltd, is understood to have proposed setting up of a 1,400 MW gas-based power plant to
augment supplies in the city.
The comments of Ahluwalia, who has refrained from naming any specific project in the letter, has implications for gas-based power projects, in particular, as Delhi is not naturally equipped to have indigenous power supply from other modes like hydel, nuclear or non-conventional sources.
Besides, Reliance Energy is yet to sort out the price at which it would procure gas for its much-hyped Dadri project in Uttar Pradesh.
Furthering the issue of power situation and public response on private participation, Ahluwalia has even recommended a detailed study of efficiency improvement achieved by the discoms.
Last year, Reliance Energy had made a presentation before the plan panel Deputy Chairman on performance of its discom in this city following growing public concern about increasing tariff and declining consumer satisfaction.