Question : POTENTIAL OF HYDEL POWER GENERATION

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER ( SHRIMATI JAYAWANTI MEHTA )

(a) : The country is endowed with an economically exploitable viable hydro potential assessed at 84044 MW at 60% Load Factor. However, only 16.6% of this potential has been exploited, 6.3% is under various stages of development and 2.73% has been cleared by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

(b) : The cost of hydro generation per unit depends on factors such as date of setting up the generation projects, geological and technical factors, rehabilitation and other related issues. The average cost per unit in various States is given below :

Sl.No.	Name of State	Cost of generation (P/Kwh) (Year 2000-01)
1.	Haryana	23.14

2.	Karnataka	40.37

3.	Himachal Pradesh	113.00

4.	Meghalaya	86.01

5.	Andhra Pradesh	36.31
6.	Tamil Nadu	24.00

7	Maharashtra	44.95

8.	West Bengal	357.99

(c) : Government of India is according high priority to development of hydroelectric projects in the country and has so far tentatively identified hydroelectric projects of 16,291 MW for benefits in the Xth Plan and 22,364 MW for benefits in the XIth Plan. However, the capacity addition identified for benefits in these Plans would depend on obtaining statutory clearances and tying-up of necessary funds.

The budgetary support for hydroelectric projects under central sector has been substantially increased from Rs.1265 crores to Rs.2082 crores over the last four years. Government of India is also providing assistance to the State Sector projects through loans from Power Finance Corporation. A special Accelerated Power Development Programme has been launched for Renovation, Modernisation and Uprating activities of hydro stations.

Government of India has recently introduced 3-stage development of hydroelectric projects under Central Sector with a view to reducing time and cost overrun in implementing the hydroelectric projects. The Central Electricity Authority has also completed a preliminary ranking of all the potential hydro sites in all river basins of the country based on technical and non-technical parameters.