NTPC, India’s largest power producer, has initiated power capacity expansion programme for Maharashtra. The foundation stone for the second stage of the Mouda plant near Nagpur was laid on Friday.

The plant has a capacity of 3140 MW for Maharashtra, which is in addition to 2440 MW already operational through Ratnagiri gas plant (1940 MW) and Mouda (500 MW).

Located 45 km from Nagpur, Mouda project is the first power station of NTPC in Maharashtra. The project has two 500 MW units in stage I out of which one is already operational, second unit is likely to start this year.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, union minister of state for power who laid the foundation stone said that power ministry is implementing other schemes worth Rs 4000 crores in Maharashtra.

The stage II having 660 MW units with super critical technology will have high plant efficiency with 99.95% dust separation. Coal for the project has been tied up with Mahandi and Western coal fields and water from Gosikurd dam. The project will supply power to states in the western region.

Speaking on the occasion, Prithviraj Chavan, chief minister of Maharashtra urged for more gas for Ratnagiri gas power station which is generating only one third of its capacity due to gas shortage. He also appealed to the centre to allocate more coal to meet Maharashtra's power needs.

Arup Roy Choudhury, CMD of NTPC, BP Singh, Director (projects) of NTPC, and senior officials from ministry of power were among others present during the programme.