(a) whether the Government are aware that due to sluggish execution of nuclear power projects, it is impossible to achieve the target of adding 7880 megawatts by the end of 2000; and
(b) if so, fresh steps taken by the Government for time- bound completion of nuclear power projects in order to achieve the target ?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY (SMT. VASUNDHARA RAJE)
(a) There has been no sluggishness in the execution of the Nuclear Power Projects.
The Government of India has been pursuing its Nuclear Power Programme with a view to
developing and utilising nuclear power as an inevitable option in the long term perspective.
The programme, is founded on a vision set out covering a long period of time and in relation
to the resources available. A Nuclear Power Profile envisaging setting up of a total
installed capacity of 10,000 MWe by 2000 AD was accordingly drawn up in 1984. However,
the programme had to be scaled down subsequently keeping in view the resource constraints
in financing the programme. In order to achieve the objective of the nuclear power profile,
financial outlay of Rs.15,125 crores was proposed during the 8th Five Year Plan. However,
due to financial resource constraints, outlay approved was only Rs.4261 crores. Out of
the approved outlay, the budgetary support from the Government approved for the entire
8th Five Year Plan period was only Rs.761 crores and the balance was to be mobilised
through Internal and Extra Budgetary Resources(IEBR). In view of this, the targets
envisaged thereof could not be achieved.
(b) The steps taken to ensure timely completion of the Projects include:
(i) increased Government budgetary support to the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. For IXth Plan, total approved outlay is Rs.5187.43 crores as against VIIIth Plan outlay of Rs.4261 crores,
(ii) standardising the designs, modular construction and resorting to modern techniques of project monitoring and implementation,
(iii) enhancing the scope of Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) packages,
(iv) Obtaining clearance from regulatory authorities well in time,
(v) employing better management techniques etc.