Date:16/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/16/stories/2008111656360800.htm

National

Nuclear deal needed to meet power demand, says Pranab

BHIWANI: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said the India-U.S. nuclear deal would help in generating 50,000 additional megawatt of power in next 10 years in the country.

Describing the deal as a milestone in country’s history, he said it was essential to meet growing power demand.

Addressing a rally to mark the 62nd birthday of the former Minister, late Surender Singh at Tosham, Mr. Mukherjee accused the Opposition of spreading misinformation about the deal.

Turning to the coming Lok Sabha election, he asked people to support the Congress .

Plots, scholarships

On the occasion, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the State government formulated a Rs.2,300 crore scheme to provide plots to people belonging to Scheduled and Backward Castes.

Besides, a scholarship scheme had been chalked out for students belonging to these castes to enable them to pursue higher studies, he said. — PTI