Coal linkages inadequate supply of machinery and unavailability of gas are three major roadblocks that have caused delays in power capacity addition during previous five year plans suggested by India’s union minister of power Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde.
Mr Sushil Kumar while speaking at the roundtable on Power for All: The New Strategy & Roadmap Ahead organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry said that during the eleventh five year plan, capacity addition target of 78,000 MW is not likely to witness any significant slippage. He further emphasized that more capacity is being added under the present five year plan compared to what has been cumulatively added in the past 15 years.
Ministry of Power has undertaken several measures to ensure that growth of the power sector is accelerated enough to service above 9% GDP growth aspiration of the country. Some of these measures include setting up of an Advisory Group consisting of few past secretaries of the power ministry, announcement of a forward-looking hydro policy and setting up of a monitoring mechanism for new power projects. Mr Shinde also emphasized that while half the duration of eleventh five year plan is still left; Government is already ready with its blue-print for the twelfth five year plan, which envisages capacity addition target of 100 GW.
Mr Shinde released CII report on "Accelerating Power Sector Growth" during the event and applauded CII on its pioneering work in the power sector. He assured the gathering that various concerns of the industry will be properly dealt with. He said that "Its war time for power ministry at present and this war has to be won. Industry has to join Government's efforts in ensuring power for all by 2010.”
Mr Harishankar Brahma secretary power of government of India in his remarks stressed the need of reliable and timely power, without which consumers incur heavy losses. 50% to 55% of India's 26 crore households do not have access to electricity grid. He said that "Power for all by 2012 is not a mere political slogan rather the government is firmly committed to this goal.
Mr RS Sharma chairman of CII National Committee on Power and CMD of NTPC Ltd in his opening remarks highlighted that CII Power Roadmap seeks to present a way forward on issues such as power tariff, fuel linkages & associated infrastructure, hydropower, energy efficiency & demand side management, transmission and climate change.
Mr Vipul Tuli director of McKinsey & Company made theme presentation on the CII report emphasizing on distribution reforms, maximizing peaking capacity, demand side management, accelerating coal exploration & ensuring coal linkages, ensuring ancillary infrastructure, augmenting the scope of UMPP model and working with state governments to identify over 100 sites for power projects development.
