Govt taking steps to overcome power shortage: Goyal

He said, 'The reasons for shortfall in power inter alia are less generation due to fuel shortage in some power plants'

Admitting that the country was facing power crisis, Power Minister Piyush Goyal today said steps like strengthening inter-state and inter-regional transmission capacity was being undertaken to overcome the shortages.

"The reasons for shortfall in power inter alia are less generation due to fuel shortage in some power plants, Low Plant Load Factor of some of the thermal generating units, transmission and distribution constraints, less hydro generation because of poor monsoon in some areas," the Minister said in a reply to Rajya Sabha.

He also said that High Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses of state discoms and poor financial health of state utilities was responsible for shortfall in power.

The steps being taken to overcome the power shortages are acceleration in generation capacity addition during 12th Plan with a proposed target of 88,537 MW from conventional sources and 30,000 MW from renewable energy sources.

It also includes undertaking a massive programme for strengthening of inter-state and inter-regional transmission capacity for evacuation of power, he said.

Goyal said a new scheme has been announced for strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution networks besides undertaking segregation of agricultural feeders and expeditious resolution of issues relating to environmental and forest clearances for power projects.

The Minister said out of the power plants of 42,350 MW capacity, 24,190 MW units which are gas-based were under stress because of non-availability of domestic gas.

Of the balance, coal-based thermal capacity of 7,230 MW is already commissioned and a further capacity of 10,930 MW, having no coal linkage, is likely to be commissioned by March 15.

Efforts are being made to make fuel available for these plants to the extent possible," Goyal said.