Speaking at the foundation lying ceremony of the project, Union Power Minister P R Kumaramangalam said that in the next six years, the NTPC would generate 8000 MW in the State. The NTPC also planned to go in for Stage III as part of its plans for four mega projects in the country.

Kumaramanglam said the NTPC, which was the ninth largest and third most efficient public undertaking in the world, was set to expand to make itself a profitable venture. It is likely to undertake contracts for power generation, renovation, modernisation and consultancy in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia.

Union Textiles Minister Kashiram Rana said there was a shortage of at least 1200 MW in the State. Several industries have been permitted to set up units in the State but they cannot unless the power shortage is made up.Also, because of high tariff, there was resentment among industrialists, he said, adding he had received complaints.

Presiding over the function, Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel clarified that the tariff was high because of a high duty on fuel. `` We have coal-based thermal plants. To run these, we have to buy coal from Bihar, Orissa and pay more transport charge. This is one reason why electricity rates are high in Gujarat compared to those in other states''.

He urged Kumaramanglam to look into the shortage and allocate more gas to the State in view of Gujarat's potential and growing economy. Gujarat supplies gas to Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. Why we cannot have gas-based plants, Patel asked, stressing on more gas-based thermal plants.

NTPC chairman Rajendra Singh assured the power minister that Stage II project would be completed within 22 month. ``This is my commitment'', the chairman said.

Union Home Minister L K Advani, in his speech, dwelt upon the Insurance Bill, and justified the Bharatiya Janata Party volte face, saying his party was pragmatic and not a prisoner of any ideology and which was why it changed its stand. The Bharatiya Janata Party could do so because it took decisions based on pragmatism, he added.

The Bharatiya Janata Party had vehemently opposed the opening up of the insurance sector to the multinationals during discussions on the Bill in the Lok Sabha. But after a group of ministers recommended the opening up of the sector for foreign investment, the government accepted it, Advani said.

Observing that infrastructure holds the key of country's economic progress, Advani said: ``we feel that if we want infrastructural development, we should open up the insurance sector for foreign investment so that foreign companies can invest in the infrastructure sector''.