(a) whether proposals have been sought from State Governments for setting up some
new power plants in the country;
(b) if so, the total number of proposals sent by the Government of Bihar and the
action taken by the Union Government thereon; and
(c) the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER ( SHRIMATI JAYAWANTI MEHTA )
(a) to (c) : As per the Electricity Act, 2003, the requirement of according Techno-
Economic Clearance by Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has been dispensed with for
thermal generation. However, any generating company intending to set up a hydro
generating station shall prepare and submit to the Authority for its concurrence, a scheme
estimated to involve a capital expenditure exceeding such sum, as may be fixed by the
Central Government from time to time, by Notification.
Planning Commission has delegated full powers to State Governments for
approval of power projects without any ceiling. Clearance from Planning Commission is
to be restricted only to those hydro-electric projects where inter-State issues are involved.
At present, no hydro power project under the State Sector forwarded by
the Bihar Government is pending with Central Electricity Authority (CEA) for according
Techno-Economic Clearance.