India, April 21 -- West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee laid the foundation stone of a 1,600-MW thermal power plant at Salboni in West Medinipur district on Monday.

The chief minister said that a series of coal-based power plants were coming up across the state and work has also started at Deucha - Pachami, the largest coal mine in India, which would not just do away with any power shortage but is also expected to bring down the power tariff.

"A 660-MW power plant is almost complete at Sagardighi in Murshidabad. In Bakreshwar and Durgapur two units of 660 MW are coming up. The bidding process has started. At Santaldih in Purulia two units of 800 MW are being constructed," Banerjee said, addressing a gathering at Salboni after layi...