Lok Sabha Question No. 798 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-21
Subject: Production Capacity of Hydro Projects
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Sumedhanand Saraswati

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.798

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.11.2019

## PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF HYDRO PROJECTS

†798. SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI:

Will the Minister of POWER

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  both  kind  of  natural  and  man-made  hurdles  come  in  the construction of hydro-electric projects;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to remove these hurdles; and
- (d) the other steps being taken by the Government  to  enhance production capacity of hydro-electric projects?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

( SHRI  R.K. SINGH)

- (a) & (b) : Hydro-Electric Projects face a number of hurdles, both natural and  man-made.  The  major  natural  hurdles  encountered  in  hydro-electric power  projects  are  natural  calamities  (such  as  earthquake,  flood  etc.), geological  uncertainties,  difficult  terrain,  land  slide,  poor  accessibility, etc.  The  examples  of  man-made  hurdles  are  land  acquisition  problems, local agitations/resistance including Rehabilitation & Resettlement issues, delay in various statutory clearances viz. Environment and Forest Clearances,  Contractual  problems,  Funds  constraints  with  Developers  / Contractors, Inter-State disputes,  Court / various Tribunals  such  as National Green Tribunal (NGT) cases, etc.
- (c) : The  following  steps  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to address these hurdles:
-  Central  Electricity  Authority  (CEA)  monitors  the  progress  of  under construction power projects through frequent site visits and interaction with the developers and equipment suppliers.  CEA holds review meetings periodically with the developers and other stakeholders to identify and resolve issues critical for commissioning of Projects.
-  Regular reviews are also undertaken in Ministry of Power to identify the constraints areas  and  facilitate faster resolution of interministerial and other outstanding issues.
-  A Power Project Monitoring Panel (PPMP), set up by the Ministry of Power, independently monitors the progress of the Projects.
-  Progress  of  selected  Projects  are  also  reviewed  by  the  Hon'ble Prime Minister through the  PRAGATI  meetings, as  and  when required.
-  In case of Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs), the project implementation parameters / milestones are incorporated in the MoU signed every year between respective CPSUs and MoP and the same are  monitored  during  the  Quarterly  Performance  Review  (QPR) meetings of CPSUs and other meetings held in MoP/ CEA.
-  Elaborated guidelines dated 8.11.2019 have been issued by Government of India to avoid time and cost overrun in Hydro Electric Projects.
- (d) : Following steps have been taken by the Government to enhance production capacity of Hydro-Electric Projects:
- (i) Renovation & Modernisation, Uprating and Life Extension (RMU&LE) of the existing old Hydro-Electric Projects to augment (uprating) capacity addition in the country.
- (ii) Government  has  taken  several  policy  initiatives  in  the  past  to give  a  boost  to  hydropower  development  in  the  country  viz., National Electricity Policy 2005, Hydro Power Policy 2008, Tariff Policy, 2016, etc.
- (iii) Govt. of India in March, 2019 approved a number of measures for promoting hydropower in the country and improving viability of the Sector. These include:-
- a) Declaring Large Hydro Power (LHPs) (> 25 MW projects) as Renewable  Energy source.
- b) Hydro Purchase Obligation
- c) Tariff rationalization measures
- d) Budgetary Support for Flood Moderation/Storage Hydro Electric Projects   (HEPs).
- e)   Budgetary Support towards Cost of Enabling Infrastructure, i.e. roads/bridges.
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