Question : PENDING POWER PROJECTS PROPOSALS

(a) whether the Government has received any power projects/proposals from the State Governments including Bihar and West Bengal with regard to development and generation of power in the country during the last three years and the current year;

(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the name of such projects/proposals sanctioned and pending for clearance during the said period along with the sector viz. hydro, thermal and gas to which they belong, State-wise;

(c) the reasons for not clearing all the projects/proposals;

(d) whether power is being generated from the sanctioned projects and if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(e) the time by which the pending projects/proposals are likely to be cleared and sanctioned projects start power generation; and

(f) the funds allocated/released/utilised for the purpose during the said period, State-wise?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, COAL AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY ( SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL )

(a) & (b) : With the enactment of the Electricity Act, 2003, concurrence of Central Electricity Authority (CEA) is not required for setting up of new Thermal Power Projects. However, in respect of hydro power projects, detailed project reports (DPRs) are required to be concurred by CEA.

DPRs of eleven Hydro Power Projects aggregating to installed capacity of 5,684 MW have been received in CEA from State Governments during the last three years and current year (01.04.2011 onwards). The details are placed at Annex.

(c) to (e) : The examination of DPRs involves appraisal of various aspects such as Hydrology, Foundation Engineering & Seismicity, Design and safety of dam, Design of civil structures such as water conductor system, power house, surge shaft, Power potential studies, Electro-mechanical design, Geology, Power evacuation, Construction material and Cost etc. In order to appraise the above aspects, CEA consults Central Water Commission/ Ministry of Water Resources / Central Soil & Material Research Station and Geological Survey of India. The examination of DPRs is an interactive process between the appraising group(s), the developer and concerned State Government. Once all the aspects are approved by the appraising groups/agencies, CEA endeavors to accord concurrence, as far as practicable, within a period of 90 working days.

Concurred projects are taken up for construction after all statutory clearances and other mandatory approvals are received.

(f) : There is no scheme in Ministry of Power for providing funds to State Governments for development of power generation projects.