Govt confident of generating surplus power for export

With half a dozen power equipment firms slated to set up units in India, the government today expressed confidence of meeting the domestic power demand and generating surplus for export.

"We had only Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL). Now, six big companies are coming in joint ventures and the country will not face any power problem. I am confident that the country will export power to other countries," Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha.

Pointing out that the government has kept a huge target of adding power generation capacity of 78,777 mega watt (Mw) for the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12), he said that "the problem is that there are not many equipment manufacturing companies."

In the 10th Five Year Plan, the country was able to produce 22,000 Mw, though the target was 42,000 Mw, he added.

Replying to a supplementary, the minister said, however, that power is in the concurrent list and the state governments "have not done much to increase power generation capacity".

The country's total power generation is about 185,000 Mw, of which 108,000 Mw goes for consumption, he said.

On Rajiv Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), Minister of State for Power K C Venugopal said that 110,000 villages have been electrified under the scheme and as many as 17.6 million families living below poverty line (BPL) also been covered.

Replying to supplementaries, the minister said that the government is also concentrating on electrifying villages affected with naxal problems and areas of scheduled tribes.

On the delay in implementation of scheme in some states, especially in Jharkhand, the minister said: "The concern of the member is right. There is delay and it is because of various reasons like land acquisition and naxal problems. The Central government is monitoring. A Committee headed by Power Secretary is also monitoring."
    
However, the minister said that the situation now is improving in the state.