Dr. Man Mohan Singh can light India.
Posted : September 21, 2004 at 10:20 am [IST]
It could not be a chance that both- Gurcharan Das and Swaminathan Anklesaria Aiyar wrote in their regular columns in Sunday TOI on electric power. Mr. Das suggests Dr. ManMohan Singh to take his path of glory in electric power and to make it his ‘big hit’.
Hundred and thousands of people from all over the country will fully endorse this. More importantly, as an IITian, I can’t but simply agree that it is something very much possible and doable. Dr. Singh in PM’s chair can do it better than any one else.
Let us agree that road and electric power are two infrastructure sectors, without which any development is possible more so of the rural India (that happens to be on the priority list of this government). For roads if the government speeds up the ongoing projects of NHDP and Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sarak Yojana, a lot will be achieved. However, for electric power Dr, Singh will have to take personal interest to give the initial push. Let us for a moment assume that the towns of the country by definitions are having at least the bare minimum electric power. But over 56% of rural households about 78 million in number have no access to electricity. Once we talk of per capita consumption, it is dismal 582 kw-hr per year against China’s 1200. And China spent $13 billion in power sector last year and is building 130 Gigawatts capacity of power generation in different part of the country. Without electricity, no development can even be imagined. Rural areas can’t think of a better quality of life or having additional earnings from newer businesses.
Why is it doable?
Current plan of capacity addition of1,00,000 Mw by 2012, though not sufficient to deliver a generation potential of 1000 units per capita even without considering the likely population growth, but must be attempted with efficiency of the execution of the projects in manner not followed till today, but in more professional manner to make it achievable. India can use hydro-electric as well as thermal power plants.
” The whole of North India from J&K to Arunachal can setup small, medium and big hydropower generating plants sufficient enough to meet the requirement of the region. The total hydro-electric potential in the country is estimated at 84,000 Mw at 50 per cent load factor. The present installed capacity in the sector is estimated at 29,000 Mw, with 14,000 Mw proposed to be added during the Tenth Plan period.
” India must build at least 10,000Mw of thermal plants including gas-based ones every year and go on building that for next 10 years. Is it very difficult? Dr. Singh is to get some 50,000mw generating capacity added during his tenure. It is impossible, once there is a will for getting it.
” India is fortunate enough to have strong PSUs such as NTPC and NHPC besides ONGC, GAIL, BHEL and some more that are willing to go for gas-based power generation in big way to diversify their business. NTPC and NHPC are already having their plans ready for next 10 years. Both are to be encouraged to get their projects completed in or before time by speeding up. With no ministerial interference they can do that.
” With no dearth of consumers ready to pay for electric power, private enterprises are also itching to go in big way in power generation. Tata Power, CESC and Reliance Power are already in big power business and many are waiting anxiously to see the implementation of the electricity Bill of 2003. It will be not difficult to find 5 or more private companies that can easily add another 5000Mw or more per year in generating capacity.
” Nuclear power generation, strengthened and expedited by certain outsourcing can provide additional significant generation capacity.
” Government can encourage non-conventional power generation through wind mills and solar cells more vigorously and that will certainly help in providing electricity for many smaller applications in specific geographical areas.
Dr.Singh can help with his administrative ability to remove the red tape of the system and get the country out of the ‘power’ mess that discourages any entrepreneur to open his shop here. If he can keep politics out of the programme, if he can make the babus of the department work, if he does not waste time in reworking the electricity bill again to give a stamp of his government, Dr. Singh CAN DO IT and can light the country and leave the stamp of his personality in the history as he did in early nineties with his liberalization reform. Lastly, I suggest him to take help of some of the young educated smart and dynamic MPs in the execution of power programme. I do also suggest to have a web site listing all the power generation projects above 500Mw with description and location, capacity, its builders, date of completion so that the whole country knows the status and progress..
- Indra
Category: Government Policy/Administration |
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