The Power Ministry will once again discuss the standard bidding documents for case-II Ultra Mega Power Projects with industry players before taking the approval from the Empowered Group of Ministers, said Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of State for Power (Independent Charge). This may lead to a further delay in allotment of UMPPs.
On February 12, Scindia said that the >bidding norms are ready and his Ministry has already sent it to eGoM for its nod.
Asked what made him review the bidding norms again, Scindia said that the bidding documents are not likely to be 're-drafted.' According to him, there are some 'apprehensions' which forced his Ministry to re-look at the norms.
The non-finalisation of bidding documents are delaying award of 4,000 MW each ultra mega power projects (UMPP) in Odisha, Tamil Nadu and >Chhattisgarh .
In case-II type of bidding, a captive coal block is packaged along with the thermal station for sourcing fuel.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests has given its go-ahead for 2,500 MW for hydro projects, Scindia said.
The Government is looking to empower POSOCO with powers to become the regulator in the transmission sector. This would be done in next 12 months, the Power Minister said.
The Power Ministry also looks forward to fund nearly Rs 10,000 crore projects under National Electricity Fund.
Till now, in 2012-13, nearly 12,500 MW of new capacity has been installed. This includes 12,000 MW of thermal capacity and 420 MW of hydro power.
Scindia said that by the end of current financial year, India expects to add 17,500 MW of new capacities, taking total installed power generation capacity in the country to nearly 228,000 MW.
The advisory panel on power sector headed by Scindia met for the first time on Tuesday.
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