| The government plans to put investments in hydro-power generation units on the fast track. The power ministry has proposed doing away with the three-stage clearance mechanism from pre-Public Investment Board to cabinet clearance.
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| Officials told Business Standard the move, expected to be announced in the Budget, would help central public sector undertakings like the National Thermal Power Corporation and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation set up generation units faster.
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| The finance ministry is considering the simplification of investment procedures for all navratna PSUs by devolving greater powers to the boards of these entities to increase investment flow in the economy.
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| The officials said the Central Electricity Authority, which clears all hydro projects, has representatives from various government departments and ministries such as the Planning Commission and the power ministry and the responsibility for decisions would be fixed on the boards, which were scrutinised by the Central Vigilance Commission and the Comptroller & Auditor General, among others.
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| The government is giving thrust to hydel projects and is trying to improve the thermal-hydro mix. The total hydel potential in the country is estimated at 84,000 Megawatt, at 60 per cent load factor and the capacity is estimated at 150,000 Mw.
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| At present, the hydel installed capacity is around 29,000 Mw. During the Tenth Plan period, which ends in 2007, an additional hydel capacity of 14,000 Mw in a targeted capacity of 41,000 Mw is proposed to be added.
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| During the Eleventh Plan period, another 20,000 Mw hydel capacity is proposed.
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| The total capacity addition during the next Plan is estimated at 60,000 Mw. The CEA is conducting feasibility study on addition of 50,000 Mw hydel capacity in 16 states.
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| During the three remaining years of the Tenth Plan, NHPC is lining up investments of Rs 25,000 crore, while NTPC proposes to spend around Rs 33,000 crore on capacity addition, of which a substantial chunk will go towards hydro projects. |
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