Question : Hydro Power Plants

(a) whether the Government of India proposes to review some of the Hydel power projects in the country with a view to giving major thrust through different ways to bring down the cost of hydro power;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether any study including international experiences has been made by the Government in this regard;

(d) if so, the details and the outcome thereof;

(e) whether the Union Government have examined all the findings of the study; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and further action taken thereon?

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

( SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL )

(a) to (f): The Government is seized of the issue of promoting hydro power and improving its saleability by bringing down hydro tariff through suitable interventions. An Expert Committee was formed under the Chairpersonship of Ex. Chairman, Central Water Commission (CWC) which held consultations with stakeholders and studied global practices in hydro power across the World. The recommendations of the Committee were presented during the Power Ministers Conference held at Vadodara from 7th to 8th Oct. 2016 and the resolutions agreed upon by the participating States are as under:-

• Declaring all hydropower (irrespective of size) as renewable energy which would ensure:

(i) All hydropower would be covered under Renewable Purchase Obligation .
(ii) All hydropower would get qualified for dispatch priority.

• Extending renewable energy benefits upto 100 MW projects (by increasing the earlier upper limit of 25 MW).

• Extending low cost credit to hydropower projects >100 MW from Coal Cess.

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