|
Performance appraisal report <br>Power Ministry draws flak from Standing Committee
By A Business Correspondent
The functioning of the various statutory constituents has come in for scathing criticism from the Standing Committee on Energy (2002). The committee, which has reviewed the performance of the ministry, has made some pertinent observations and suggestions for improving the performance in its report submitted to Parliament in April.
Some of the salient points made by the committee are summarised below:
Unrealistic targets
The capacity addition in the 9th Plan was less than 50 per cent of the target of 40,245 mw. This was even below the 53 per cent achieved in the 8th Plan. The poor performance was largely on account of the failure of the Central sector and the private sector in meeting their targets. The state sector achieved 84.3 per cent.
Lack of investment decisions in thermal PSUs, delay in receipt of foreign assistance and submission of DPRs were some of the reasons for the slippages by the Central sector. The projects under the private sector slipped on account of failure to achieve financial closure, litigation etc.
The sorry performance has led the committee to remark, "The committee has come to an irresistible performance that overoptimistic and unachievable targets, is a permanent phenomenon in the ministry which is hard to break."
In the case of private sector the committee has remarked, "Over dependence and a total reliance on private sector has left us nowhere. It is in this context that the committee feels that it may not be desirable for the government to diminish their role or withdraw themselves from power sector lest private sector fails us again."
Hydro projects
Out of the potential to generate 150,000 hydel power the country has been able to tap only 17 per cent. The performance in the 9th Plan was also dismal. The Central sector and private sector could achieve less than one-sixth of its target of 3,455 mw, 555 mw.
For more details please refer to Projectmonitor Prinit Version.
Performance appraisal report <br>Power Ministry draws flak from Standing Committee
|
