North East develops just 1% of hydro-electric power potential
In spite of accounting for more than a third of the assessed hydro electric potential in the country, the north-eastern states have managed to develop just about 1 per cent, reveals a background paper on non-fossil fuel generation in a recently concluded international business meet.
Interestingly, the BIMARU states have for once crossed the national average pretty comprehensively.
The statistics as on January 2002, reveal that the north-eastern states account for a total of 31,857 MW assessed potential at 60 per cent load factor (LF). However, only a meagre 388.5 MW has been developed. The national average stands at 16.7 per cent of potential developed out of the 84,044 MW total assessed hydro electric potential.
However, Tripura, on a low base of just 9 MW, tops the charts with 94.44 per cent ratio of developed to assessed potential. Apart from Tripura, among the north-eastern states, only Assam crossed the national average with 31.81 per cent of developed to assessed potential.
The paper, prepared by CII in association with National Hydroelectric Power Corp and Nuclear Power Corp of India, reveals that among the BIMARU states recording better conversion rate from assessed to developed potential, Bihar clocked 74.64 per cent development, though on a low assessed potential of 60 MW. Uttar Pradesh recorded 85.79 per cent developed potential on 403 MW assessed potential.
Rajasthan had 66.21 developed potential out of 291 MW assessed potential. Though Madhya Pradesh was at the lower end with 21.63 per cent developed potential it still was higher than the national average. Region wise data reveal that south India recorded the best figure of 53.86 per cent developed potential out of 10,763 MW assessed potential. They were followed by western region with 32.71 per cent of developed potential and then by east with 24.5 per cent. North was ranked last with 15.33 per cent of developed to assessed potential in hydro electric power potential.
However, if we include the percentage potential developed and those under development, then the west seems to be shoulder to shoulder with the south with 59.13 per cent and 59.73 per cent respectively. This is due to the 'potential currently under development' in MP and Gujarat. Other states which indicate better conversion from assessed to developed potential are Jharkhand and Assam.
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