Govt to fast track 40,000 MW hydro power projects: Scindia

New Delhi: Efforts are being made to fast track hydel projects with a total generation capacity of 40,000 MW that are awaiting clearances at various levels, Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said today. These projects are awaiting clearances from different authorities including Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Central Water Commission (CWC) and Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).[caption id=“attachment_1098489” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Union Minister of Power Jyotiraditya Scindia. Image courtesy PIB[/caption] “We are looking at about 95 hydro projects, having about 40 gigs (40,000 MW), which are awaiting clearances at CEA level, CWC level and at MoEF level. We are fast tracking each and every one of those,” Scindia said in New Delhi. The minister said he was looking at having an Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) to look at infrastructure issues, on a basin-wise basis, to push the hydro projects forward. Speaking to reporters after meeting state power ministers, Scindia said efforts are being made on a “war footing basis” to push hydel projects in Arunachal Pradesh. The state has the maximum hydro power generation potential at around 50,000 MW. With regard to various hurdles faced by power projects, the ministry said there has been a lot of traction in discussions with coal and environment ministries. “We have got a lot of traction from the Ministry of Coal and the Ministry of Environment and Forests on all issues pertaining to the power sector. “I have tremendous amount of support from both the ministers and the ministries. We will chart the way forward in a progressive manner that will allow the power sector to grow in this country,” he added. The domestic power sector is grappling with multiple woes including acute shortage of coal, delay in getting clearances and poor financial health of electricity distribution companies. PTI