Power conference aims at fulfilling Mission 2012

Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde emphasised the important role to be played by the State Governments and industry in turning around the Power Sector at the Conference of Power Ministers’ of all States and UTs in New Delhi yesterday. The Minister urged them to help create a robust competitive environment crucial for the sustainable development. He said that the future vision and approach for strengthening the power sector depends upon continuation of the reform and restructuring process with a view to improve financial health of utilities.
Terming power as an essential input for sustaining an annual growth rate of 8-10%, the Power Minister said that quality power supply to farmers, industries, households and other consumers at reasonable prices is one of the main priorities of the Government. He said that his ministry has taken several initiatives to fulfill the mission of providing power to all by 2012.
Following are the highlights of the Conference:
• Target of 5653 MW capacity addition has been set in the first 100 days of this Government, out of which 2319 MW has already been achieved.
• Target of 14,507 MW has been fixed for the year 2009-10 and of 78,700 MW for the XI Five Year Plan, out of which 15036 MW has already been commissioned.
• A Special Advisory Group (SAG) on generation under Chairmanship of Minister of Power consisting of Experts, retired Secretaries to the Government of India, one nominee each from FICCI, CII and BHEL will be set up to expedite completion of the ongoing capacity addition projects on war footing.
• An initiative has been taken by the Ministry of Power to create job opportunities for youth at project sites. So far, 38 ITIs have been adopted in 20 States/UTs. Another 13 ITIs are in the process of being taken over in 10 States.
• CPSUs will be providing 100 days training to develop Master Trainers for effective dissemination of knowledge and skills.
• Online short circuit testing facility for Transformers upto 315 MVA will be set up through a joint venture company comprising of four CPSUs, namely, NTPC, NHPC, PGCIL and DVC.
• States assured of the Centre’s cooperation in resolving issues pertaining to generation, transmission, distribution and rural electrification.
• Plan to hold the next Conference of State Power Ministers in December this year to take stock of the progress achieved.
• Regular meetings of Standing Committee of Power Ministers will be held henceforth.
For achieving the Capacity Addition targets, it was resolved to:
i. Place pending orders for BOPs for 11th Plan Projects by 31st July, 2009.
ii. Signing of Fuel Supply Agreement with Coal companies by 30th June, 2009.
iii. Initiation of Import of Coal by 31st July, 2009 by States who have not taken action so far.
iv. Formation of JVs for coal block development by 31st August, 2009.
v. Withdrawal of condition for 5% charge on profit of Generation Companies for local area development.
vi. Initiation of Case 1 bidding by States anticipating shortages at the end of 11th Plan.
vii. Designation of Nodal agency for Integrated Planning – by 31st July, 2009. State Transco could be designated as the Nodal Agency.
The ministry has also resolved to expedite key initiatives like the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) and the Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (APDRP).