Consultative Committee discusses power projects development by NTPC

New Delhi, May 7 (UNI) Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has stated that providing reliable, affordable, secure and sustainable energy to all consumers is emerging as one of the highest priorities of the Government.

''The Government has planned for addition of more than 78,000 MW generation capacity during the 11th Plan with the objective of providing 'Power to All by the year 2012','' the Minister added.

Addressing a Consultative Committee meeting of the Members of Parliament of the Ministry of Power here today, Mr Shinde said the challenge at hand can only be met by the creation of larger generation capacities in the country.

''We have to move at a faster pace in capacity addition and see that over 15,000 MW is added per annum so as to realize the targets set for the 11th Five Year Plan. We have already placed orders for more than 70,000 MW and have already commissioned more than 9,000 MW during the first year of the 11th Plan. There are constraints in the manufacturing capacity, more acutely in the Balance of Plant items.

We are therefore focusing on these areas to ensure that things move smoothly,'' Mr Shinde said.

He added that the Government is keen to incentivise more manufacturers to set up manufacturing facilities in India.

Earlier, CMD (NTPC) R S Sharma made a presentation on the company and informed that NTPC has an excellent track record of implementing power projects on or ahead of schedule and stated that the company has also firmed up an ambitious capacity addition programme and plans to add 22,430 MW during the 11th plan period, contributing 28.6 per cent of the All India target finalised by the Government.

''Out of NTPC's 11th Plan target, 1990 MW has already been commissioned. Construction work is in full swing for another 16,680 MW projects, he added.

The issues raised by Members of Parliament, who attended the meeting, included land acquisition for power projects, relief and rehabilitation measures, nuclear power, Kishanganga Project, Pancheshwar Yojana, power problems of Dhanbad and Bokaro, NTPC foundation, HRD issues in NTPC, Transmission and distribution losses and Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana.

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