Power to All

powerThe government is taking several measures to achieve the new capacity addition target to meet the growing demand for power and providing power to all. These include:

(i) Rigorous monitoring of capacity addition of ongoing generation projects at the highest level by the Minister of State for Power (Independent Charge), Planning Commission, Cabinet Secretariat, Secretary (Power) and Chairperson of Central Electricity Authority.

(ii) Periodic joint review of issues related to supply of power equipment from BHEL by a Group under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Heavy Industry) and Secretary (Power).

(iii) Formation of several new joint ventures to manufacture super-critical boilers and turbine-generators for thermal power plants.

(iv) Introduction of web-based monitoring system.

(v) Sensitization of stake-holders to enlarge the vendor base to meet Balance of Plants requirements.

The National Electricity Policy 2005, inter alia stipulated that ‘Availability of Power – Demand to be met fully by 2012’. The Planning Commission had originally fixed the capacity addition target of 78,700 MW for the Eleventh Plan (2007-2012). However, during the Mid-term Appraisal (MTA) of the Eleventh Plan by the Planning Commission, the capacity addition target for the Eleventh Plan was revised to 62,374 MW. As against it, the power generation capacity addition achieved in the Eleventh Plan was 54,964 MW (88% of MTA target).

The major reasons for the shortfall in the achievement of Eleventh Plan capacity addition target include slow progress of civil works, contractual disputes between project developer and contractor and their sub-vendors / sub-contractors, poor geology, flash flood, delay in land acquisition, environmental concern, law and order problems/local issues and difficult climate conditions.

A total of 88,537 MW of fresh capacity comprising 10,897 MW Hydro, 72,340 MW Thermal and 5,300 MW Nuclear, is planned to be added during the Twelfth Five Year Plan Period.

This information was given by MoS (I/C) Power Sh. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.