Aher said that a team of WB officials had visited the State between May 25 and 28 this year. They held discussions with the Government about granting funds for improving public health services in the State -- particularly those in rural areas, the Health Minister informed.

Madhav Kinhalkar (Cong) then wanted to know whether the WB loan would still be forthcoming in view of the sanctions. ``The WB team assured us that it won't come in the way of the loan,'' Aher replied.

POWER TO THE STATE: The power generation capacity of the State will increase to 20,000 megawatts by the end of 2002 AD, Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde told the State Legislature today. Munde, who also handles the Energy portfolio, was replying to questions in the Legislative Council. With the completion of power projects at Dabhol, Chandrapur andPatalganga, the power generation in the State will improve, Munde said. By the end of this year, it will go up by 715 MW, the minister added.

Replying to another question, Munde admitted that there had been a shortage of power in March, April and May this year. This was because the power plant at Uran could not generate enough power, he explained. As a result, authorities had to resort to load shedding for more than four times every month, Munde said, adding that the situation will improve from this month.

Munde further said that the Government was seriously considering providing insurance cover to farmers whose water supply pumps burnt out due to power fluctuations. The MSEB will bear part of the losses caused as a result of the damage to water pumps, the minister added.

He informed the House that a special cable will be laid from Chandrapur to Wardha to improve the quality of electricity supply in the State.

Munde said that private financial institutions were welcome to invest in the powergeneration sector in the State. The Government will also allow cooperative sugar factories to generate power, he said.

In a written reply in the Council, Munde disclosed that various municipal corporations, councils and water supply bodies in the State collectively owed a whopping Rs 250 crore to the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) towards pending electricity bills.