Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said that he had requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to give environmental clearance for the proposed power projects of Madhya Pradesh. It is the need of the hour that the politicians should work for the welfare of the common people giving up the practice of criticism and the Central and the State Governments should together accelerate the pace of development working in unison in key areas of development including the energy sector, he added. Chouhan was speaking on the occasion of signing of an agreement for establishment of a joint venture between BHEL and Madhya Pradesh Power Generation Company Limited (MPPGCL) here on Thursday. On the occasion, a joint contract was inked between MPPGCL and BHEL for establishment of a coal-based power plant in Khandwa. The stakeholders including BHEL and MPPGCL will have equal partnership in this joint venture company to be known as Dada Dhooniwale Khandwa Power Limited. Later, financial institutions, banks etc. would be included as partners under the development plan of the company. Chouhan further observed that Madhya Pradesh was fast emerging as a self-sufficient State in respect of power generation. It is the endeavor of the Government that power generation units go into generation of electricity keeping in view the future requirement. The Chief Minister said that with the ever increasing consumption of electricity there remains no other option but to go for increasing power generation and saving electricity. Chouhan expressed the hope that BHEL would complete the works pertaining to this project in time. The Chief Minister assured that the State Government would take up the work pertaining to land allotment etc. for the projects proposed to come up in the state without any delay. Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries Arun Yadav said that about a couple of months ago, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed for making a joint venture of Thermal Power Plant on the Super Critical parameters in Khandwa. He said that in the next four years, Khandwa area would establish its identity as a power hub. On this occasion, he assured to extend full cooperation in realising the potential of energy production in Madhya Pradesh. Minister of State for Energy Rajendra Shukla also spoke on the occasion. Minister for Transport Jagdish Deora, Chief Secretary Rakesh Sahni and Energy Secretary SPS Parihar were also present. BHEL Chairman and Managing Director B Prasad Rao delivered the welcome address. BHEL Director (Finance), CS Verma proposed a vote of thanks.