'Power supply must grow to attain GDP targets'

Gangtok, Nov 21: Power supply needs to grow at 10 per cent to achieve the national growth target of 9-10 per cent, according to Union Power Secretary R V Shahi.

''The GDP growth rate of 9 to 10 per cent could not be achieved without the rise in power generation in the similar scale,'' Mr Shahi reviewing the progress of various power projects and the reform process.

At present, the country has a total capacity of 1,28,000 mw which was around ten per cent less than the requirement. He predicted that the demand for power was likely to increase in the coming days and by 2032, the country would need 8,00,000 mw to meet its requirement.

Out of the 128,000 mw at present, he said, 33,000 mw comes from hydro power plants, 3000 mw from nuclear plants, 7000 mw from non-conventional energy sources and the balance from thermal power plants.

The Power Secretary said several steps had been taken to meet the rising demand for power. By the end of March 2007, power generation in the country would reach 1,40,000 mw and by 2012 it would touch 2,10,000 mw, he said.

Mr Shahi said the power growth rate was increasing steadily over the years. From 3.1 per cent in the ninth plan it had now reached 7.1 per cent. In the nuclear power generation sector, the target was to increase the generation from the existing less than three per cent to seven per cent by 2032.

''Similarly, steps are on to increase power generation in the hydro sector and NHPC had made better planning for the 11th plan period,'' he said.

A number of hydro-electric projects like Parvati 2 and 3 in Himachal Pradesh, Seva in Jammu and Kashmir and Subanshri on the Asom-Arunachal Pradesh border were under construction and some others were in the pipeline, he added.

The Dulhasti in Jammu and Kashmir, Teesta-5 in Sikkim and the TLDP 3 and 4 in West Bengal are likely to be commissioned shortly, Mr Shahi said.

The NHPC plans to add 5,800 mw from its 14 projects during the 11th five year plan, he said.

Similarly, steps were also being taken to enhance generation in other sectors.

However, Mr Shahi said the authorities could bridge the demand and supply gap and achieve the target only with the cooperation and support of the common man.

UNI