The Centre on Thursday assured Maharashtra, which is reeling under an acute power crisis, that it would provide as much as 1,210 Mega Watt of electricity, including 610 MW at normal rates, to tide over the situation.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh [Images] gave an assurance to this effect to Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh after a 40-minute meeting, which deliberated on short-term measures to address the problem.

Deshmukh told reporters that of the 610 MW, 300 MW would come from Kawas project in Gujarat and 250 MW from Tarapur nuclear power plant.

The CM was accompanied by Power Minister Dilip Walse Patil and Cooperation Minister Patangrao Kadam.

He said that he would hold another meeting with the PM on the long-term measures, including the issue of Dabhol project.

Centre also agreed to Maharashtra's request to make available the coalmines at Bellora and Taklijena in Chandrapur district.

The assurance by the Centre would help ease the situation in the state facing shortage of 3500 MW, the CM added.