Balutar (Sikkim), July 04: With the country facing
acute power shortage, the Centre has set a target of one lakh
MW power generation during the 12th five-year plan, Power
Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said here on Saturday.
The Centre has decided to up the target for power
generation to one lakh MW during the 12th plan as against the
target of 78,000 MW in the 11th plan, he said at a function at
Balutar, about 35 kms from here, after dedicating to the
nation the 510 MW Teesta Stage V hydel plant.
The details of the target will be worked out under the
UPA government's 100-day programme, Shinde said adding the
Congress-led government proposed to provide one unit power to
each household in the country by the year 2012.
Shinde said the 30 per cent increase in power generation
under the 12th plan was a realistic endeavour as there were
five companies now manufacturing various equipment and allied
material for use in power plants as against one company
earlier.
A monitoring committee will be set up to ensure that the
power generation target could be achieved in the proposed time
frame, he said, adding the government will use the vast
experience of retired power secretaries for the purpose.
Shinde blamed previous governments for lack of adequate
power generation in the country as they had "failed" to deal
with the issue on priority basis as evident from the 8th, 9th
and 10th five-year plans.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, July 04, 2009, 19:12