Country faces shortage of 15,000 Mw, says minister

The government today said in the Rajya Sabha that there were difficulties in meeting targets of thermal power generation because of shortage of equipment and manpower and pointed out that the country faces a shortage of 15,000 Mw.

Replying to supplementaries during the Question Hour, Minister of State for Power Bharatsinh Solanki said in order to achieve additional target of 78,700 Mw set for the 11th Five Year Plan, BHEL has enhanced its capacity to deliver main plant equipment.

He said BHEL, NTPC, L&T and many other Indian companies have entered into joint ventures with each other and with foreign companies to help enhance power generation in the country and ensure supply of power equipment.

Solanki said though the country produces 1,50,000 Mw, there is a shortage of 15,000 Mw. "To bridge this shortage we have opened up our policy," he said.

Solanki said that in order to overcome shortage of manpower, government has been training young men and women. Indigenous companies are also being invited to train the youth and overcome shortage of skilled manpower.

He said actual power generation during 2007-08 and 2008-09 was 704.47 billion units and 723.79 billion units respectively, which represent an achievement of 99.2 per cent and 93.5 per cent of target fixed.

"During the current year 2009-10 (April-June 2009) the actual power generation has been 189.70 billion units against the target of 191.82 billion units, an achievement of 98.9 per cent," he said.