Power sector needs Rs 10.31 lakh cr in 11th plan: Shinde
New Delhi, Aug 13: The power sector will require Rs 10,31,600 crore investment during 2007-12 to add generation capacity, besides creating and upgrading transmission and distribution networks, Rajya Sabha was informed today. "The working on power for the 11th plan has estimated a total fund requirement Rs 10,31,600 crore for power sector as a whole. For creation of projected capacity addition, fund requirement has been assessed at Rs 4,10,900 crore," Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said in a written reply. Out of the proposed capacity addition of 78,500 mw during the 11th plan, 1,870 mw has already been commissioned and another 50,975 mw is under construction, he said. "With the projected capacity in place and through energy conservation measures, the gap between demand and supply of electricity is likely to be bridged gradually during the course of 11th plan," he said. He said Rural Electrification Corporation and Power Finance Corporation have geared up to mobilize funds to ensure that viable projects do not suffer for want of resources. To another question, Shinde said the government is targeting to add 16,553 mw of hydropower in 11th Five Year Plan with an estimated investment of about Rs 78,100 crore. The country has so far developed 30,951 mw of hydel power generation capacity and 14,951 mw was under development, he added.
