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14.2 per cent peak shortage of power plagues country

New Delhi, Mar 12 (UNI) The government today said the country is facing an 14.2 per cent shortage of power during peak time and a overall shortage of 9.5 per cent during 2006-07 (till February).

''There is overall shortage of power in the country. The shortages vary from state to state and season to season, as well as time of day depending on the demand and supply of power,'' Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said.

The minister said the main reasons for the shortfall in the plan target include delay in technology tie-up for super-critical thermal power projects, slippages of hydro projects mainly due to delay in clearances, investment decisions, award of works, geological surprises and court cases, delay in financial closure of private projects, delay in critical supplies by the equipment manufacturers and non-availability of adequate gas.

In 2005-06, Mr Shinde said, there was a peak shortage of 12.3 per cent and an energy shortage of 8.4 per cent.

The National Electricity Policy envisages ''Power for all by 2012'' and per capita availability of power to be increased to over 1,000 units by 2011-12.

To achieve this, total capacity addition of about 1,00,000 MW is required during Tenth and Eleventh Plan period, of which a capacity of 23,250 MW is likely to be added during tenth plan.

The capacity addition of 76,460 MW comprising 16,253 MW hydro, 57,047 MW thermal and 3,160 MW of nuclear has been provisonally proposed.

''Out of 76,460 MW a total 44,358 MW (58 per cent of the proposed capacity) is already under construction,'' Mr Shinde told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

The Minister said India has a per capita consumption of 606 MWs electricity as compared to United States' 13,338 MWs, Australia's 11,126 MWs, France 7,689 MWs, Germany 7,030 MWs, Japan 8,076 MWs, Russia 5,642 MWs and United Kingdom's 6,206 MWs.

During the Tenth plan, an amount of about Rs 74,300 crore is likely to be spent by CPSUs. Under the Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme, since 2002-03, an amount of Rs 6,574.89 crore has been released under APDRP investment component.

In addition, an amount of Rs 1,587.53 crore has been released under APDRP incentive component and Rs 3,347 crore under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana for rural electrification.

UNI

Elders concerned at killing of Indian fishermen by Lankan Navy

New Delhi, Mar 12 (UNI) Cutting across party lines, members of the Rajya Sabha today strongly condemned the killing of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy in Indian territorial waters and demanded that the government intervene and ask Colombo to return the Katcha Tivu island to India. The issue was raised by Mr Tirunavukkarasar (BJP) before the Question Hour was taken up. As soon as the House assembled for the Question Hour, Mr Tirunavukkarasar said the Lankan Navy had killed.....

Chandigarh: Hooda hails bonus on wheat

Chandigarh, Mar 17:  Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has hailed the decision of the Central Government to announce a bonus of Rs 100 per quintal on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 750 per quintal for wheat.In a statement issued here today, Mr Hooda expressed his gratitude to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the decision taken in the larger interests of the farming community.Mr Hooda said even earlier the Centre had made a timely.....

Budget a fraud on common man: Malhotra

New Delhi, Mar 12 (UNI) Dismissing the General Budget as ''disappointing and shameful'', BJP Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha V K Malhotra today said it was a fraud on the common man and a ''breach of trust'' with the farmers and employees. ''The common man is missing from the Budget,'' he said, initiating discussion on the General Budget 2007-08 vote on account. Mr Malhotra said the kind of reaction Budget proposals for 2007-08 evoked from the media were proof enough.....
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