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The Power Sector has currently under implementation 44 projects each costing Rs.100 crore and above. Of these, 31 are due for commissioning during the 10th Plan and 9 in the first year of 11th Plan period. The latest Exception Report of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has placed 5 projects under Category B, i.e. those under different stages of implementation, but reporting certain constraints for which remedial measures have been suggested. The Report placed 39 Projects under Category A, i.e. those under different stages of implementation but not facing any constraints at the moment, requiring remedial action.
In this sector, the Power Grid is executing the largest number of projects totalling 24, followed by NTPC with 9, NHPC 8, THDCL - 2 and NEEPCO-1. The major constraints in this sector relate to Hydro-Power Projects, especially due to slow pace of civil works/poor performance of contractors. Some of the transmission projects have been delayed, as they are linked to generation projects.
For instance, the Madurai-Thirvananthapuram 400 KV D/C Line of the Power Grid, which has encountered a time delay of 19 months and cost over-run of nearly 27 per cent. Land acquisition is said to be one of the reasons for the delay. In case of the Loktak – Hydro Electric Project of NHPC in Manipur, approved in December 1999, is currently under review, because of various constraints, high costs and security reasons. The Tehri Dam and the Hydro-Electric Project of the THDCL, located in Tehri Garhwal, has already reported a cost over-run of over 125 per cent and a time delay of more than 76 months. All design issues relating to the main dam and associated works, are to be resolved before the Tehri-Hydro Electric Project is made operational.
The Tehri Transmission System of the Power Grid has also reported a cost over-run of nearly 92 per cent and time delay of 78 months with respect to the original estimates. Scarcity in the availability of Steel is said to have affected the erection works.
Another Project encountering constraints is the Tala-Siliguri Transmission Line, also of Power Grid in West Bengal. This project has already encountered a cost over-run of nearly 19 per cent and a time delay of 14 months against the original estimates. Erection work in Tala-Siliguri Line-II stands stopped by Forest Officials of the Jaldapara Wild-life Sanctuary.
VKS/SR
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