PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry

An Important one day conference of State power secretaries is being organized on July 22 on power situation on a crucial and historic day, when the elected national Government is seeking a vote of confidence on the issue of energy security and is willing to sacrifice itself for this cause. This Conference organized by the PHD Chamber is going to be attended by the Union Power Secretary, Mr. Anil Razdan , Mr. Deepak Gupta, Secretary, Ministry of New and renewable energy apart from eight State power Secretaries from North India.

This brain storming session between the stakeholders in the power sector is for finding practical answers with the objective of converting the power sector into a vibrant and self sustaining engine of economic growth in the years ahead. The expectation is from power developers both from the public and private sectors for accelerating development of new and renewable energy.

PHD Chamber suggests to the Central Government for accelerating development of hydro power projects in our country are to consider the following action plan.

Long term hydrological and meteorological data for various project sites should be continuously maintained by a designated agency.
It is important to have Government’s support on the issues relating to prior freezing of resettlement and rehabilitation policy and compensation package and also for obtaining Ministry of Environment and Forest clearances. These should be final and binding on the States.
An independent Hydro Power Development Authority on the pattern of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) be considered for setting up.
River Development Authorities be set up and 5 to 6 mega projects identified for development through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV).
Deposit of 3 to 5 percent of the project cost should be obtained from the project allotters as security against delays.
States need to sincerely adopt policies to facilitate speedy setting up of large number of hydro power projects. While allotting the project sites, milestones should be fixed for early development of projects & achievements of the milestones should be closely monitored by the designated authority

India is also having huge potential for development of solar power and hence there is an opportunity for solar – thermal to emerge as a solution for meeting the long term power needs of our country. There is a need to promote and facilitate large scale solar – thermal projects.