11th Plan Power Output
May Fall Short of Target

The Planning Commission is doubtful about achieving the targeted power capacity addition of over 78,000 Mw planned in the current Five-Year Plan period (2007-2012).

"I could say 40,000 Mw is certainly achievable, 60,000 Mw is a possible target but 77,000 Mw looks a bit difficult," said Kirit Parikh, Member (energy), Planning Commission recently. Parikh had expressed hope that India could go close to 70,000 Mw in achieving the target.

The Power Ministry has set up a target of adding 78,577 Mw of power generation capacity in the current Plan period, out of which about 15 percent ,12,000 Mw has been achieved. Parikh attributed the apprehension over meeting the capacity additional target mainly to the non-achievement of financial closures of some projects.

Minister of Power Sushil Kumar Shinde had recently said in a newspaper interview, "During the eighth, ninth and the tenth Plan periods 56,000 Mw was added. But in this 11th plan, 92,000 Mw is coming (including captive). This has never happened in the history of this country." The government was expected to miss its 11th Plan (2007-2012) target of 78,577Mw by around 60 percent because of shortage of equipment and clearance delays, among other reasons.

In the 10th Plan period (2002-07), the government had envisaged an additional power capacity of 41,110Mw. It ended the Plan with a capacity addition of only 20,950Mw, 49 percent short of the estimate. The Government cited delays in technology alliances, lack of funds and natural calamities such as floods as reasons.

"Not many of the planned projects have done financial closures and there are other problems also," he said.

Earlier this year, Shinde had said that the capacity addition target of even over 90,000 Mw was achievable, including the power generation capacity planned to be added in the Plan period.

While over 80,000 Mw of power generation capacity was planned to be set up in the last two Plan periods, only about 50 percent of this capacity could actually be added.

India currently has an installed power generation capacity of around 145,000 Mw and is planning to add another 78,577 Mw in the current Plan period. This includes over 75 percent of thermal power generation capacity and the balance is expected to be set up for hydro and nuclear power generation.