Centre, States must work together for providing affordable and quality power: Shinde

New Delhi, Apr 28 (ANI): Union Minister for Power Sushil Kumar Shinde on Wednesday said both the Central and State governments must work together for providing adequate, affordable and quality power to all consumers.

Calling for renewed endeavour and commitment, Shinde said: "Our ability to deal with the most critical issues depends on how closely we work together"

Listing out the recent efforts by his ministry in this direction, Shinde said: "We have already added 22,302 megawatts new capacity in the first three years of the 11th Plan, which is more than entire capacity addition during the five years of the 10th Plan."

"State Government's support is crucial for addressing issues like, law and order, land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement, and Forest and Environment clearances. These clearances need to be expedited and given in a time bound manner to achieve the capacity addition targets," he added.

Speaking at the Power Ministers Conference, Shinde expressed confidence that with the close cooperation and active support of State Governments, "We will definitely add the balance 40,000 megawatts capacity in the remaining period of two years. Although the capacity addition target for the 12th Plan is still to be finalized, Power Ministry is tentatively planning 1,00,000 megawatts."

"Work on projects of about 58,000 megawatts capacity, which are likely to give benefits in the 12th Plan has already begun. During 2009-10, 9,585 megawatts of capacity has been added. This is the highest capacity addition achieved in a single year during the last six decades, the second highest being 9,263 MW during 2007-08," he added.

Calling for Public Private Partnership model for resource mobilization and efficiency gains in the distribution sector, Shinde urged the State Governments to provide necessary legal and regulatory framework for smooth implementation of these partnerships.

Shinde informed the gathering that his ministry has recently launched a scheme for electrification of villages within 5 km periphery of generation plants of CPSUs for providing reliable and quality power to the project affected people and electricity connections to BPL households will be provided free

The minister also called for the need to maintain grid discipline.

"Observing that time and again some states are playing a dangerous game of overdrawing from the grid when frequencies are low," said Shinde asserting that with the integrated grid for almost the entire country, such heavy overdrawal could lead to a disastrous situation.

Minister of State for Power Bharatsinh Solanki called upon the State Governments to consider providing incentives to Municipalities /Local Bodies for up - gradation of energy efficiency of Water Pumping and Sewage Treatment Plants as well as Municipal lighting.

"Energy efficiency measures in Water Pumping and Sewage Treatment Plants could help in solving the problem of payment of electricity dues to Utilities. Use of incandescent bulb should be banned in all public lighting and government buildings," said and suggested energy efficiency measures for agricultural DSM for rural areas.

elhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission B. K. Chaturvedi, and Power Ministers as well as Power Secretaries from various states and Union Territories attended the Power Ministers' Conference.

Shinde released a booklet on a new scheme for supply of electricity within 5 km. area around central generating power plants on the occasion.

The agenda of the conference is to discuss various issues related to power sector including generation capacity addition, open access and unbundling of State Electricity Boards, Rural Electrification through Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) and strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution system through Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP). (ANI)