Power

1. RURAL ELECTRIFICATION BY REC
Unstarred Question
2189 6/8/2010

(a) whether the Government has made any assessment of the efficiency of Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC) in the implementation of Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana for building the rural electricity infrastructure;

b) if so, whether the REC has been successfully meeting all its targets;

(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

 (d) whether the Government proposes to bring more power companies for better implementation of the scheme;

(e) if so, the details thereof;

(f) whether the Government proposes to have Public-Private partnership for building the rural electricity infrastructure in the country; and

(g) if so, the details thereof?

 ANSWER

 THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER (SHRI BHARATSINH SOLANKI)

(a) to (c) : Government of India launched `Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana – Scheme for Rural Electricity Infrastructure & Household Electrification`, in April 2005 envisaging providing access to electricity to rural households. Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd.(REC) has been designated as nodal agency for RGGVY scheme. The projects are being implemented by the State Utilities and Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) selected by the States. 573 projects covering electrification of about 1.18 lakh un/de- electrified villages and electricity connections to estimated 2.46 crore BPL households have been sanctioned under RGGVY. Cumulatively, as on 15.07.2010, the electrification works in 81574 un/de-electrified villages have been completed and 118 lakh BPL connections have been released in the country under RGGVY. REC, as nodal agency is continuously striving for achievement of targets, through regular reviews of performance of implementing agencies.

 (d) to (g) : No, Madam.

2. SHORTAGE OF POWER
Unstarred Question 2526
12/3/2010

(a) whether the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) while highlighting the shortage of power in the country has called for intervention of both the Union and States Governments in the capacity creation and other supportive components of the power sector;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the EAC has also recommended for encouragement to the private sector in the power business and diversifying fuel sources;

(d) if so, the details of the steps taken by the Government in this regard and the response of the private sector thereto; and

(e) the other steps being taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to meet the shortage of power in the country?

 ANSWER

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER (SHRI BHARATSINH SOLANKI)

 (a) to (c): The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC) has mentioned in the `Economic Outlook for 2009-10` brought out by the EAC in October, 2009 that without a high order of government intervention in capacity creation and other supportive components in the electricity business, it will not be possible to make the necessary improvements in the electricity sector, which is so vital for the economy to maintain a high rate of growth of 8 to 9 percent. It also states that it is equally important to facilitate and encourage more private investment in power generation. Most of the capacity now being executed, or in an advanced stage of planning, is coal based. The EAC states in the Economic Outlook that fuel sources should be diversified, particularly with respect to natural gas, using both domestic and imported natural gas, Liquified Natural Gas, and develop more nuclear power plants.

 (d) & (e): Several measures have been initiated by the Government to address the issue of power shortage and facilitate private investment in the power sector. These include 100% FDI on automatic route in respect of projects relating to electricity generation, transmission and distribution; close and comprehensive monitoring of power projects under construction; initiative for facilitating the development of Ultra Mega Power Projects of about 4000 MW capacity each under the tariff based competitive bidding route using super critical technology; institution of an award scheme for early completion of power projects; stress on augmentation of manufacturing capacity of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, and liberalization of Mega Power Policy.

Private Sector has responded to these initiatives and projects amounting to 19797 MW capacity in the private sector are likely to be commissioned with a `high level of certainty` during the Eleventh Plan period. Out of this, projects with 5290 MW capacity in the private sector have been commissioned so far and balance 14507 MW capacity is likely to be commissioned in the remaining period of Eleventh Plan.

3. DELAY IN COMMISSIONING OF POWER PROJECTS:
Unstarred Question 2674
12/3/2010

 (a) whether a number of power projects proposed to be commissioned during the Tenth Five Year Plan in the country including Karnataka has not been commissioned so far;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

 (c) the details of functioning and under construction power projects in the country along with the power generation capacity and estimated cost involved therein, State/UT-wise;

(d) the details of power projects where construction work has been pending or has been delayed, State/UT-wise; and (e) the steps being taken or proposed to be taken by the Government for starting the work on pending projects and for timely commissioning of these projects?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER (SHRI BHARATSINH SOLANKI)

(a) & (b): Details of thermal and hydro power projects which were targeted for commissioning during the Tenth Five Year Plan but are yet to be commissioned are given at Annex – I & II, respectively. Nuclear power project, Kudankulam U-1 (1000 MW),Tamil Nadu, targeted for commissioning in the Tenth Plan is likely to be commissioned in March, 2011. The project has been delayed due to delay in supply of materials/equipments from Russian federation.

(c): Details of power projects functioning during the current year in the country are given at Annex – III. Further, State-wise details of thermal, hydro and nuclear power projects presently under construction in the country are indicated at Annex –IV, V & VI, respectively.

(d): Details of thermal, hydro and nuclear power projects where construction work has been pending or has been delayed are indicated at Annex–VII, VIII and IX, respectively..

(e): The following steps have been taken by the Government to ensure that the projects are commissioned as per the schedule:

 a. Monitoring mechanism in the Ministry has been strengthened. The progress of generation projects for completion during 11th Five Year Plan is reviewed periodically by the Central Electricity Authority, Ministry of Power and Power Projects Monitoring Panel (PPMP). An Advisory Group under the chairmanship of Hon`ble Minister of Power with retired power secretaries amongst others has been set up to suggest ways and means to achieve the 11th Plan capacity addition targets.

b. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is a major indigenous manufacturer for main plant equipment in Public Sector. BHEL has enhanced its capacity to deliver 10,000 MW of main plant equipment per annum, have put in place an action plan to enhance capacity to deliver 15,000 MW per annum by March,2010 and may raise this capacity upto 20000 MW by March,2012 depending upon the market demand.

c. The issue of supply of equipments by BHEL has been discussed in the Committee of Secretaries chaired by the Cabinet Secretary on December 8,2009. In pursuance of the decision taken in the meeting, a Group under the Chairmanship of Secretary(Heavy Industry) to finalise a joint action plan which would lay down the schedule /timeframe for completion of projects as per targets, has been set up. Members of the Group include Secretary (Power),Chairperson, CEA, CMD, NTPC and CMD, BHEL.

d. A Joint Venture Agreement has been signed between NTPC Ltd. and BHEL to take up work related to Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) for power plants and other infrastructure projects.

e. M/s L&T has already formed a Joint Venture Company with MHI, Japan for manufacture of supercritical steam generator and steam turbine generators in India.

f. All stakeholders have been sensitized towards enlarging the vendor base so as to meet the Balance of Plants (BoP) requirements.

g. To overcome the shortage of skilled manpower, `Adopt an ITI` initiative has been taken up.

h. Periodical meetings are held with concerned Ministries viz. Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Ministry of Environment & Forest and at other forums at highest level to sort out the inter ministerial issues with regard to availability of fuel and grant of Environment & Forest clearance to generation projects.

 In addition to this, to ensure that the capacity addition targets are realized and projects are commissioned as per schedule, an Accountability System has been put in place for the Eleventh Plan central sector power projects scheduled for commissioning during the Eleventh Five Year Plan period.

4. THERMAL POWER PLANTS:
Unstarred Question 2631
4/12/2009

(a) the details of targets set and achievements made in the power generation from thermal power plants in the country during the last three years and the current year, project-wise and State-wise;

 (b) whether a number of thermal power plants are not able to utilize their capacity;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(d) the steps taken to realize optimal capacity utilization?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER (SHRI BHARATSINH SOLANKI)

(a): The target and achievement of power generation from thermal power plants in the country during the last three years and the current year are given below:

                                                       Figure in Million kWh (MU)

  (April – Oct., `09)

# Target set for the period April, 2009 to March, 2010 is 648,480 MU.

## Provisional The State-wise and project-wise details of target and achievement of power generation from thermal power plants in the country during the last three years and the current year (April – October, 2009) are given at Annex-I.

 (b) & (c): The performance of thermal power plants (generation, PLF etc.) is dependent on a number of factors like installed capacity,age of the units, past performance, outage for planned maintenance and forced outages, availability of water/fuel (both quantity and quality), etc. The quality and availability of fuel having substantial bearing on the performance of thermal power stations, the actual performance of some power plants, mostly in the state sector, is at variance with their normal working capacity. The details of thermal power plants in the country which have been operating below National Average Plant Load Factor (PLF) is enclosed at Annex-II.

(d): The Government has been taking a number of steps to improve the PLF of existing thermal power stations. These include (i) adoption of better Operation & Maintenance (O&M) Practices for improving PLF through tie-up with well performing utilities (Partnership in Excellence Programme), (ii) renovation, modernization and life extension of old and inefficient generating units, (iii) reducing the duration of Planned Maintenance in the thermal power stations, (iv) continuous inter-action by CEA with Power Station Authorities, BHEL and other concerned agencies for sorting out operation and maintenance problems; and (v) rigorous monitoring of production, transportation and supply of coal by an Inter-Ministerial Group comprising representatives of Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Railways, CEA and Coal India Ltd. on weekly/fortnightly basis to review and resolve the supply constraints.

http://164.100.47.132/Annexture/lsq15/3/au2631.htm

 5. ALLOCATION OF POWER TO STATES
Unstarred Question 303
20/11/2009

(a) whether any extra consideration is given to the States in allocation of power from Central Generating Stations where the power plants are situated;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the State Government of Orissa has requested the Union Government for additional allocation of power from the allocated share of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) power plants in the State:

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER ( SHRI BHARATSINH SOLANKI )

(a) & (b) : Yes, Madam. As per the existing guidelines for allocation of power from the Central Generating Stations (CGSs) to the States/UTs, 12% free power in case of hydro electric projects and 10% (not free) in case of thermal power projects is allocated to the State in which the power project is located.

(c) to (e) : Government of Orissa has been requesting for more allocation of power from Talcher Super Thermal Power Station, Stage-II (4x500 MW). Orissa had not been allocated power from Talcher Super Thermal Power Station, Stage-II as Grid Corporation of Orissa Limited (GRIDCO) had, in the absence of firm commitment for commissioning of the project and ceiling on the cost of power, decided not to procure power from the project. Notwithstanding the above, 10% (200 MW) home state share has been allocated to Orissa subsequently.

 6. RAJIV GANDHI GRAMEEN VIDYUKTIKARAN YOJANA
Unstarred Question
4 3/7/2009

(a) the number of villages electrified and those yet to be electrified under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) in the country so far, State-wise;

(b) the allocation of funds made and utilized during the last three years, State-wise;

(c) whether the Government has received proposals from the State Governments under RGGVY;

(d) if so, the details of the proposals sanctioned and those lying pending for approval of the Government, State-wise at present; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to speed up the electrification of villages in the country?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF POWER(SHRI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE)

(a) to (e) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 24 TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 03.07.2009 REGARDING RGGVY.

(a) : The state-wise details of electrification of villages are presented at Annexure-I.

(b) : There is no state-wise allocation of funds. However, the state- wise details of funds disbursed are presented at Annexure-II.

(c) & (d) : A total of 562 projects have been sanctioned during 10th Plan and Phase-I of 11th Plan as per details given in the Annexure-III. Any remaining projects can only be sanctioned under Phase-II of 11th Plan. The commencement of Phase-II of 11th Plan is yet to be decided by Govt. of India.

(e) : For effective implementation of RGGVY, the following steps have been taken:

i) A State level coordination committee headed by Chief Secretary of the State has been set up to review progress of RGGVY and resolve inter-departmental issues.

ii) States have been advised to set up district committees to monitor the progress of rural electrification works.

iii) The Government of India as also Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), the nodal agency for RGGVY, conduct frequent review meetings with all the stakeholders; the concerned State Governments, state power utilities and implementing agencies for expeditious implementation of the scheme on the agreed schedules.

iv)For speedier and effective implementation of projects, their execution has been taken up on turnkey basis. It has been proposed to compress the projects implementation schedule to 18 months for XI Plan projects.

v)To ensure qualitative execution of rural electrification works, a three tier quality control mechanism has been enforced under RGGVY.

vi)Grant amount of BPL connection has been enhanced to Rs.2200/- from Rs.1500/-.

vii)To take care of the cost escalation, cost norms for village electrification has been revised upward as given below:

 http://164.100.47.132/Annexture/lsq15/2/as24.htm

7. KANIHA POWER PROJECT
Unstarred Question 218

(a) the number of power projects commissioned by the National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (NTPC) in the country during the last three years, State- wise;

(b) whether the NTPC has formulated any action plan to increase power generation capacity of its plants in the country including Kaniha power plant in Orissa; and

(c) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER ( SHRI BHARATSINH SOLANKI)

(a) : The state-wise number of power project units commissioned by NTPC Ltd. in the country during the last three years, are as under:

(b) & (c) :      Details of NTPC projects which are presently under construction, are given below:

 # Joint Venture Projects

Presently, there is no proposal for expansion of NTPC`s Talcher (Kaniha) Power Station.

8. POWER GENERATION BY NHPC:
Unstarred Question
257 3/7/2009

(a) the target set by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) for generation of power during the last three years;

(b) the actual power generated by the NHPC from its projects during the said period;

(c) whether the NHPC has proposed to take-up new Hydro Power Projects during the year 2009-10; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER ( SHRI BHARATSINH SOLANKI)

(a) & (b) : Generation target set by NHPC Ltd. as per Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with Ministry of Power under `Very Good` rating for the last three years are as under: Year Target Generation Actual Generation (Million Units) (Million Units) 2006-07 13200.00 13048.76 2007-08 13906.95 16689.59 2008-09 16200.00 16689.59

(c) & (d) : Presently three projects namely Kotli Bhel Stage-1A, Stage 1B & Stage-II in Uttarakhand are likely to be taken up by NHPC during 2009-10. This will however, depend on the requirement of all the statutory clearances for the above projects.