Question : DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL HYDEL POWER

(a) whether the Government provides financial assistance to State Governments for the development of small hydel power projects;

(b) if so, the details of the amount of assistance provided during the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(c) whether a few States have identified certain places for establishing small hydel power projects;

(a) If so, the State-wise and place-wise details thereof including Uttar Pradesh; and

(e) the number of projects on which work has been started and the time by which other projects are likely to be established at the identified places?

MINISTER OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY (DR. FAROOQ ABDULLAH)

(a): Yes, Madam. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is providing financial assistance to the State Governments for identification of new potential sites, preparation of Plan for small hydel development in the State and for setting up of Small Hydro Power (SHP) projects.

(b): State-wise details of funds released for SHP development during the last three years and the current year, are given at Annexure-I.

(c)&(d): Yes, Madam. The States have identified potential sites for setting up of small hydro power projects. State-wise details of number of sites identified and their aggregate capacity for small hydro power project development are given at Annexure-II. About 250 potential sites aggregating to 460 MW have been identified in the State of Uttar Pradesh.

(e): So far, 928 SHP projects with an aggregate capacity of 3451 MW have been completed. 338 projects aggregating to 1290 MW are at various stages of implementation. These projects are scheduled to be completed in the next two to three years. State-wise details are given at Annexure-II.