April-June power generation up 7.13% to 391 billion units

India's total power generation rose by 7.13 per cent in April-July period this fiscal to 391.16 billion units, Parliament was informed on Thursday.

"The electricity generation in the country increased to 391,163.27 million units (mu) during 2016-17 (April-July, 2016) from 365,146.09 MUs during 2015-16 (April-July, 2015), thus registering a growth of 7.13 per cent," Power Minister Piyush Goyal said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

According to the statement, power generation at private sector projects increase 14.95 per cent to 123,885.45 mu in the first four-month period this fiscal compared with 107,777.67 mu a year ago. Central and state sector power projects' output increased by 3.94 per cent to 265,293.66 mu in April-July period as against 255,237.2 in the same period last fiscal.

The minister said as per information received from NTPC, the cost of power as billed to the power utilities from its thermal power stations for the current year 2016-17 (April-June, 2016) has reduced to Rs 3.04 per kWh from Rs 3.19 per kWh during the corresponding period last year. This is mainly on account of rationalisation of freight charges for domestic coal and reduction of imports, he added. In a separate reply, the minister said: "As informed by Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, being the nodal Ministry for according environment clearance, 15 Hydroelectric Projects and 10 Thermal Power Projects are pending for Environmental Clearance as on August 5, 2016." 

According to reply nine such projects are in Arunachal Pradesh including Naying DSC Power Ltd's 1000 mw Naying project in West Siang district, Jindal Power Ltd's Etalin 3097 mw project in district Dibang, Kalai Power Pvt Ltd's 1,200 mw Kalai-II project in District Anjaw. Three such projects under consideration for environment clearance are in Himachal Pradesh which are in public sector.

These includes L& T Himachal Hydropower Ltd's 260 mw Sach-Khas project in district Chamba and DCM Shriram Infrastructure Ltd's 120 mw Chhatru project in district Lahul & Spiti.

West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd's 1,000 mw Turga Pumped Storage Project in Purulia District is also awaiting environment clearance.

Uttarakhand has two such projects -- THDC India Ltd's 108 mw Jelam Tamak project in district Chamoli and UJVN Ltd's 100 mw Nand Prayag Langasu project in district Chamoli.

Ten thermal power projects awaiting environment clearance include NTPC's 4000 mw Pudimadaka plant at Villages in district Visakhapatnam of Andhra Pradesh and 4000 mw Coal based Ultra Mega Power Project near Bhedabahal Village in Sundergarh Tehsil of District Sundergarh, 

in Odisha.