UP CM  Akhilesh Yadav yesterday  laid the foundation stone of 1,980 MW capacity thermal power plant in Kanpur.
The project, at Ghatampur in the district, is a joint collaboration between Neyvelli Lignite Corporation (NLC) and Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam (UPRVUN).
Addressing a rally at the venue, the chief minister said his government was committed to improving the power scenario in the state.
He said without the availability of adequate power supply in the state, all-round development was extremely difficult. Industrial, social and financial development was only possible when power supply was in good measure, he added.
Ahilesh also assured that the state government would do all it could to increase power availibility so as to ensure that development reaches all strata of the society.
The chief minister also said that more compensation would be given to farmers whose lands had been acquired by the project and it would be ensured that they were given employment on priority basis.
The chief guest, Union Coal Minister Shri Prakash Jaiswal said that the central government was committed to providing coal blocks and coal linkages for thermal power plants.
Jaiswal further said that by the year 2015, the plant would be in a position to ensure that power crisis in Ghatampur, its nearby areas and Bundelkhand were met.