President calls for timely execution of power projects

President Pratibha Patil today called for all possible steps for timely execution of ongoing projects so as to meet the objective of 'Power to All' by the year 2012. Speaking after presenting awards to several utilities in power sector here, Ms Patil said the capacity addition of huge magnitude as projected in the Eleventh Plan will require augmentation of manufacturing capacity of power equipments, skilled manpower and adoption of modern project management practices.

Ms Patil said all these issues must be addressed in a co-ordinated manner, with a regular monitoring mechanism to identify delays and constraints. Earlier speaking on the occasion, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said the domestic power sector is truly on the threshold of qualitative transformation. He observed that as against the target of 78,700 MW, the generating capacity addition being monitored for implementation during 11th plan is of the order 80,000 MW, four times the capacity that has been added in any Five Year Plan period. Out of this a capacity of about 12,000 MW has already been commissioned till date and 68,000 MW is under construction and their orders have already been placed.

Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh lauded the contribution of women Self Help Groups in distribution of power in remote, inaccessible and hilly areas. Two of such SHGs from Andhra Pradesh were awarded today. Mr Ramesh also expressed satisfaction that public sector undertakings bagged the top honours.

The Comprehensive Awards Scheme, introduced by the Power Ministry in 2004-05, is for developing a spirit of competitiveness among the various power stations, projects, companies in thermal, hydro and nuclear generation, transmission, distribution and rural distribution franchisees for achieving improved performance and early completion of thermal, hydro projects and transmission projects, distribution companies in the power sector. Talcher Super Thermal Power Station (3,000 MW) of NTPC Ltd bagged the Gold Shield Winners trophy while Korba Super Thermal Power Station (2,100 MW) NTPC and Ramagundem Super Thermal Power Station (2,600 MW) NTPC both received the Silver Shield and National Capital Power Project, Dadari (840 MW) NTPC, Rihand Super Thermal Power Station (2,000 MW) NTPC and Torangallu Thermal Power Station (260 MW) of JSW Energy Ltd were the winners of Bronze Shield trophy.

The President also gaveaway the awards for Meritorious Performance of Hydro Power Station Performance: The awards for hydro stations have been introduced in the year 2004-05 with a view to accord recognition to hydro power stations based on best all-round performance covering all activities including operational, environmental, social and management aspects to several power plants.

Source: news.webindia123.com/news