Mumbai: In a major move to end the impasse to restart the controversial Dabhol Power Company (DPC), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has agreed to run the idle 2,184 mw project, Union Power Minister Anant Geete said on August 28.

"NTPC has all the technical expertise to operate the plant and has not expressed any reservations on taking this responsibility," Geete told reporters on sidelines of a banking seminar held in Mumbai.

He said DPC, which is a very important asset, is lying idle since over a year now and the government of Maharashtra and its electricity board, MSEB (Maharashtra State Electricity Board) should agree for a hike in their proposed tariff of Rs 2.25 per unit.

"The early re-commissioning of the $ 3 billion plant will help to turn the idle asset into an income generating one," Geete said adding this will enable DPC to pay its dues to the financial institutions.

"The IDBI led FIs shall soon take charge of the assets and control them," he said.

On August 27, after taking charge of his ministry, Geete had stated that the Centre will accord top priority to restart generation from the contentious DPC, for which "right steps" would be taken within two months.

"Dabhol power project, in which over Rs 9000 crore have been invested, is lying idle for more than 18 months. We are discussing the matter with the state government and hope to see some solution in next two months," he said.

PTI