‘30,000 mw stalled generation capacity revived in 18 months’

Over 30,000 mw of stalled power generation capacity has been revived in the last 18 months, the government said in Lok Sabha on Thursday, adding that it is working to ensure that there are no problems related to electricity supplies in the coming 10 years.

Piyush Goyal, Minister for Coal and Power, said there is enough coal and electricity available in the country. In the last 18 months, the government has revived stalled power generation capacity of over 30,000 mw, he said while replying to questions.

According to him, there are some power problems in Southern India, mainly on account of transmission issues. About 4,000 mw generation capacity have been added in the region in the last 18 months and additional 20,000 mw would be installed in the next three years, he added.

Goyal emphasised that there is no politics with respect to the government’s efforts towards electrification of villages. The government has launched Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) for separation of agriculture and non- agriculture feeders, strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution infrastructure for adequate electricity supply in rural areas.

“Under the scheme, all un-electrified villages/ habitations would be covered for electricification which would give access to electricity to rural households. All the remaining un-electrified villages are targeted to be electrified by May 1, 2018,” Goyal said. In the 12th Plan period (2012-17), projects amounting to Rs 63,810 crore has been sanctioned so far under DDUGJY, including the subsumed Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana, he added. With regard to electrification works in Uttar Pradesh, Goyal said his Ministry is yet to receive the data from the state government.

Meanwhile,  as many as 12 villages in Bihar got electricity for the first time last week and government stands committed to reaching power to all villages by March 2017, Power Minister Piyush Goyal said.

“We electrified 12 villages in Bihar last week. After 68 years, they finally have power,” Goyal said in a tweet. Power ministers of all states and Union Territories had earlier unanimously decided to ensure electrification of all the un-electrified villages by March 31, 2017 under the centre’s ambitious DDUGJY programme.

“Yesterday we electrified 3 more villages. Also work started on 165 more villages,” the minister tweeted, adding that “we are electrifying small dhanis and tollis also under the Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana.”

As on April 1, 2015, 2,890 census villages were to be electrified. Of those, 172 have been electrified as on November 30, 2015. The remaining villages are targetted to be electrified by May 1, 2015, Goyal said in written reply to the Lok Sabha.

“Unlike older electrification definition of (minimum) electrification of 10 per cent households, we aim to ensure electricity reaches all households by 2019,” he said in another tweet.

The country has adequate coal and power, Goyal said, adding that 8-10 gw of generation capacity will also be setup in South India to ensure adequate power. “More than 4,000 mw of transmission capacity has been set up to help South India with 20,000 mw more coming,” he said.