The Hindu Business Line : 11th Plan power projects: Govt sets strict deadlines

Power run
Projects totalling around 52,365 MW currently under execution.
Power Board asked to ensure orders for 23,632 MW done by Dec.
Ongoing power shortages result of generation capacity addition targets not being met.

Anil Sasi

New Delhi, Oct. 8 Faced with a daunting prospect of adding 78,577-MW power generating capacity during the current Plan period, the Centre is not taking any chances and has fixed stringent time-lines for placement of orders and project execution.

While projects totalling a capacity of around 52,365 MW are currently under execution, most of which are slippages from the last Plan period, the newly-formed National Power Project Management Board (set up to assist State and Central utilities to ensure timely completion of all power projects) has been asked to ensure that placement of orders for the balance capacity of 23,632 MW by Central and State power utilities is done by December this year.

“Efforts are being made to place all orders by the end of the calendar year. In no case will they be allowed to stretch beyond March 2008, which is our final deadline,” a Power Ministry official said.

Besides, orders are also to be placed for an additional capacity of over 10,000 MW, in addition to the Eleventh Plan schedule. Of this, around 7,500 MW is being targeted as a buffer in case of any slippages.

Project plans

“A number of States have forwarded a list of additional projects for commissioning during the current Plan. While Chhattisgarh has indicated it would be trying for around 5,000 MW of additional capacity through the private sector, of which part capacity has already been ordered, Tamil Nadu has also indicated plans for setting up a large capacity of Merchant Power Plants to be developed through imported coal at coastal locations,” a Ministry official said.

Uttar Pradesh has also drawn up a plan to add 3,000 MW of additional capacity during the current Plan period, of which the State sector is to contribute 2,000 MW.

Power shortages

The ongoing power shortages, seen as the biggest stumbling block in the way of India achieving a sustained nine per cent growth, have been a result of repeated failures by the Government to meet generation capacity addition targets during the last several Plan periods.

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