CEA RANKIGN
STUDIES IDENTIFIES 399 HYDRO POWER SCHEMES FOR DEVELOPMENT
Concerned with the adverse Hydro Thermal Mix in the grid system
and recognizing the need to step-up hydro power development in
the country, Minister of Power, Shri Suresh Prabhu has taken the
initiative and asked the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) to
conduct a Ranking Study of the balance hydro sites in all the
river basins in the country. The basic objective is to have a
shelf of prioritized hydro schemes for development in an appropriate
sequence.
CEA developed the criteria for ranking after discussions and
consultations with power utilities, generating companies, financial
institutions and some of the prospective developers and conducted
a Preliminary Ranking Study of balance 399 identified undeveloped
hydro power sites in the country to prioritize them for development
in the next few years. These schemes having total installed capacity
of 1,07,000 MW are spread over six River Systems of the country.
The ranking of hydro sites has been carried out based on weightage
criteria for various aspects involved in the development of hydro
schemes such as Relief and Rehabilitation aspects, inter-state/international
issues, extent of works such as height of dam, length of water
conductor system, accessibility to site, type and potential of
the scheme etc. The remote sensing data obtained for assessing
land use formed an important inputs to the study in respect of
the Indus Basin. This is the first time that such modern technology
has been brought into the sector. This study would be the first
step in sharing information with prospective developers and building
knowledge for project development.
These schemes have been graded as ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ categories
in order of their attractiveness for development. 98 schemes with
probable installed capacity of 15,650 MW fall under ‘A’ category,
247 schemes with probable installed capacity of 69,830 MW under
‘B’ category and 54 schemes with probable installed capacity of
21,420 MW under ‘C’ category. The Indus basin has 79 schemes,
out of which 11 fall in ‘A’ category, 51 in ‘B’ category and 17
in ‘C’ category. In the Ganga basin, there are 75 schemes, out
of which 20 are in ‘A’ category, 54 in ‘B’ category and 1 in ‘C’
category. The Central Indian Rivers have 13 schemes, the East
flowing rivers have 39 schemes and the West flowing rivers have
25 schemes in all the three categories. The bulk of the hydro
power schemes are in the Brahmaputra Basin which has 168 schemes
– 52 schemes in ‘A’ category, 97 in ‘B’ category and 19 in ‘C’
category.
The Minister is according highest priority for hydro power development
and a number of steps have been taken in this direction. The road
map for hydro development which would ultimately enable meeting
the peaking shortages in the country and also increase the renewable
energy component in our power sector. CEA and the Ministry of
Power have been discussing with the States, financial institutions,
credit rating agencies, ASSOCHAM, FICCI, CII, various countries
like Canada, Japan, Austria, Norway, Russia who have shown interest
in the development of hydroelectric projects in India for preparing
a National Action Plan. More than 100 projects (25 in Himachal
Pradesh, 17 in Uttaranchal, 17 in Sikkim, 24 in Arunachal Pradesh
and 10 in Jammu & Kashmir) have been identified for survey
and investigation work. An International Round Table on Hydro
Power Development is proposed in October/November 2002 to offer
these projects for development and discuss specific projects as
well as the strategy for development.
Action has also been initiated to develop hydro projects of more
than 30,000 MW capacity in the Central Public Sector. The programme
during the 10th Plan is to add hydro capacity of 14,393
MW (8742 MW Central Sector, 4481 MW State Sector and 1170 MW in
the Private Sector). Hydro projects with an aggregate installed
capacity of 22,364 MW have tentatively been identified for benefits
in the 11th Plan. A Power Projects Monitoring Committee
has recently been set up in the Ministry of Power under the Chairmanship
of Special Secretary (Power) to monitor the power projects both
at the approval stage and also while under execution. In addition
to this, there is an Empowered Committee for ongoing power projects
chaired by Secretary (Power) and Crisis Resolution Group Chaired
by Minister of Power in respect of private sector projects, besides
regular monitoring of the projects by the Central Electricity
Authority.
The Ministry has also introduced three-stage development of hydro-electric
projects in the Central Sector with the object of reducing time
and cost over-runs during the implementation of these projects.
