It is difficult not to miss the irony.

Most of the southern and western States, and even the normally surplus States in the north-east, are now going through a major power crisis. Power generation has suffered because of poor hydel storage, thanks to a truant monsoon. Compounding the problem, States that usually come to the help of large consumers in such a predicament have themselves run into difficulties in thermal generation on account of vagaries in coal supply. As a result, States like Maharahstra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala have to contend with a major shortage.

BANKURA : Though the government initiatives didn't fetch any effective results, Bankura may have a solar power plant within the next two fiscals. This has been proposed by a multinational non-conventional power major. Besides, electronic giant Videocon too has proposed for solar power plants in Bankura and Purulia. The district administration is looking for land availability for the upcoming power projects.

Electric equipment major Bharat Heavy Electricals (Bhel) has bagged a Rs 506-crore contract from Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for upgrade of drilling rigs. According to the contract, Bhel would upgrade 12 onshore drilling rigs and supply new rig equipment to ONGC, the company said in a release on Thursday. The work would also includes overhauling of rotating and hoisting equipment, revamping electrical systems and site erection and commissioning of these equipment.

Subhash Narayan NEW DELHI RELIANCE Power has zeroed in on Shanghai Electric, a $7-billion electrical and engineering equipment company of China, for sourcing primary equipment for Sasan ultra mega power project (UMPP). The Chinese major, which is planning to enter India in a big way, will supply boilers, turbines and generators (BTG) to the Madhya Pradesh-based UMPP. The supply contract is likely to be signed in the next few days.

Cairn India on Wednesday said it will invest about $2 billion in the country over the next 18 months for developing oil fields and building a pipeline that will deliver oil from Barmer in Rajasthan to the coastal areas of Gujarat. "Out of the $2 billion investment, $1.8 billion will go in Rajasthan alone and the remaining will be used for other blocks in other parts of the country,' Cairn India chairman Bill Gammell said at the company's annual general meeting here. Cairn India is developing three fields in Rajasthan

Power secretary Anil Razdan feels the churning in the Indian energy sector holds out untold opportunity to the country's manufacturing industry.

Efforts are on to increase electricity generation in the state thereby making it self-reliant in respect of its power requirements. In this direction, the two new units at Sarni would generate 500 megawatts electricity additionally in the next three years.

Delhi Cabinet has given its nod to Pragati Phase-III Bawana Power Project to be commissioned at an estimated cost of Rs 5195.81 crore. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had laid the foundation stone of the 1500 MW Gas Based Power Station on March 24 this year. The project would meet the growing demand of power in the city and cater to the requirements for Commonwealth Games 2010. The decision was taken on Monday in a Cabinet meeting presided over by chief minister Sheila Dikshit.