(a) whether hydro power potential in some States has not been tapped at the desirable
pace;
(b) if so, the details along with the reasons therefor;
(c) whether some States are reluctant to follow the norms laid down by the Union
Government in signing the MoUs for setting up of Hydro Power Projects in their States;
(d) if so, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the action taken by the Union Government in the matter?
THE MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER ( SHRI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE )
(a) to (e) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED
QUESTION NO. 49 TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 24.11.2006
REGARDING HYDRO POWER GENERATION.
(a) : Yes, Sir.
(b) : Out of about 1.50 lakhs MW of exploitable hydro electric potential identified,
20.1% has been developed and 9.1% is under development. The hydro power potential of
Northern, Eastern and North-Eastern States viz. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,
Uttaranchal, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh could not harnessed at desired pace. The details of
development of hydro potential in various States are given in the Annexure. The development
of hydro potential has been slow due to the following reasons:
(i) Difficult/In-accessible sites.
(ii) Environment, Forest and Wildlife Clearance problems.
(iii) Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation problems.
(iv) Law & order problems.
(v) Paucity of Funds & longer gestation period.
(vi) Adverse Geological problems.
(vii) Inter-state aspects.
(viii) Higher initial construction costs.
(ix) Apportionment of project cost among various beneficiaries.
(x) Excessive burden on account of Net Present Value (NPV) with respect to
Forest lands.
(c) to (e) : No, Sir. According to the guidelines of the Government of India projects upto
100 MW can be developed through the Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) and by and
large the States have been resorting to this route for projects upto 100 MWs.