(Proceedings of Conference on Large Dams and Hydropower Development, 26–28 May 2004, New Delhi, pp. VII/33–41).
Power is the primary need of an extensive and sustained development of any nation and of course of our society. It is also essential to raise the economic growth and standard of living of people of a country. Hydropower has several inherent advantages, which makes it the most preferred form of electric power, viz., renewable source of energy, natural resource, relatively long life and low depreciation, non-polluting and environment friendly, etc. Water in mountainous region is very important renewable source, which should be developed and managed properly to the advantage of economic growth, human welfare and environmental preservation of the region. The development of hydropower would take place mostly in developing countries whose 90% exploitable hydro potential is yet to be harnessed. As per the opinion building up globally, much funds for hydropower projects should come from private investors. However, historically major hydropower development has taken place in public sector and privatization of hydropower has not taken off so far in the right earnest. The various players in private hydropower development have different perceptions which some times conflicts with each other. The constraints which have affected for a poor response of private sector are technical (difficult investigation, inadequacies in tunnelling methods), financial (deficiencies in providing term financing), tariff related issues and managerial weaknesses (poor contract management). The hydro projects are also effected by geological surprises (especially in the Himalayan region where underground tunnelling is required), in accessibility of the area, problems due to delay in land acquisition and resettlement project affected families, law and order problem in militant infested areas. In India the development of hydropower in private sector has so far been poor. Many thinkers do not find favour for mega hydropower project in private sector but financial resource constraint of public funding by Government demands private finance mobilization. A bridge between these two situations is possible through proper appreciation and education of all concerned involved in hydro development.
Power, Primary need, Sustained development, Society, Economic growth, Standard of living, Human welfare, Environmental preservation, Constraints, Tariff related issues, Geological surprises, Underground tunnelling, Private finance mobilization, Hydro development
