Rs 5,66,000 Cr Needed To Light Up Power Sector During Tenth Plan

The overall requirement of funds for capacity augmentation, upgradation of transmission and distribution systems and other schemes in the power sector has been pegged at over Rs 5,66,000 crore for the Tenth Plan period (2002-07).

Of this, around Rs 3,51,000 crore is the estimated requirement for generation schemes over the next five years, while Rs 2,14,000 crore has been pegged for overhauling the T&D systems, renovation schemes, rural electrification and other associated schemes, according to the report of the working group on power for the Tenth Plan.

Under the generation schemes, a requirement of Rs 3,23,533 crore has been estimated for thermal, hydel and other modes, while Rs 28,127 crore would be required for new nuclear projects.

In the light of a capacity addition of 20,891 MW during the Ninth Plan, need-based capacity addition of 55,158 MW would be required during the Tenth Plan period.

Based on the submission of the report of the sub-group on generation and transmission planning, the ministry of power, in consultation with the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and power utilities, has reassessed the feasible capacity addition at 46,939 MW during the Ninth Plan period.

The requirement of funds for augmenting the transmission and distribution has been pegged at nearly Rs 1,51,000 crore over the next five years. Under the renovation and modernisation schemes, funds to the tune of Rs 12,266 crore would be required.

Under the R&M programme for thermal power projects, 68 units with a capacity of 17,310 MW are expected to be included to accrue the benefit of 4,250 million units per year. Additionally, 107 units with a capacity of 11,022 MW would be included under the life extension programme.

During the plan period, 45 hydro projects (with a capacity of 2,309 MW) would be taken up under the R&M programme, while 48 units with a capacity of 2,146 MW would be considered under the life extension programme to accrue benefits of 2,485 MW, as per the report of the working group.

For the rural electrification programme, around Rs 43,000 crore is the estimated requirement, according to the report.