1Member (Hydro).
2Chief Engineer,
Hydropower can play a crucial role in India’s sustainable development and energy security as it meets the criteria of sustainability, availability and reliability. It is an environmentally benign, non-polluting source of power and is most-suitable for balancing renewables. Despite so many benefits from hydropower and huge potential in country, the share-of hydropower is not at satisfactory level in overall installed capacity of the country. The Government has accorded high priority to the development of the hydro potential and has time to time taken a number of policy initiatives to address the issues impeding the hydropower development. As per Section 8 of Electricity Act, 2003 (Hydro-electric generation): (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 7, any generating company intending to set-up a hydro-generating-station shall prepare and submit to the Authority (Central Electricity Authority) for its concurrence, a scheme estimated to involve a capital expenditure exceeding such sum, as may be fixed by the Central Government, from time to time, by notification (presently Rs. 1000 crores). (2) The Authority shall, before concurring in any scheme submitted to it under sub-section (1) have particular regard to, whether or not in its opinion, (a) the proposed river-works will prejudice the prospects for the best ultimate development of the river or its tributaries-for power generation, consistent with the requirements of drinking water, irrigation, navigation, flood-control, or-other public purposes, and for this purpose the Authority shall satisfy itself, after consultation with the State Government, the Central Government, or such other agencies as it may deem appropriate, that an adequate-study has been made of the optimum location of dams and other river- works; (b) the proposed scheme meets the norms regarding dam design and safety. (3) Where a multi-purpose scheme for the development of any river in any region is in operation, the State Government-and the generating company shall co-ordinate their activities with the activities of the person responsible for such scheme in so far as they are inter-related. Accordingly, CEA concurs the Hydroelectric Schemes and PSPs ensuring Dam Safety and safety of other structures. This paper mainly focuses on the recent policy level initiatives taken by the Government of India to accelerate the-development of Hydro Power Sector in India. Further, special focus has been given to the measures to promote hydropower sector through budgetary support for Flood Moderation component and Enabling Infrastructure i.e. roads/ bridges.
