Srinagar, Feb 1: While hydel power generation in India continues to fall, the National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) has recorded an impressive growth of three percent in Jammu and Kashmir and other two states.
Hydel power generation continued its downward trend, falling by 10.1 to 6.6 billion units in December 2012, latest data said.
However, during the month, the data released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA) said major hydel power generating states namely, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand reported around 3% growth in hydel power generation.
During the same period the hydel power generation in Karnataka fell by 28.2%, whereas that in Tamil Nadu and Kerala declined by 50-60%. While the successive Governments in Jammu & Kashmir have been trumpeting of the State's affluent water resources with a potential of generating around 20,000 MW, the real beneficiary of this energy goldmine  continues to be the NHPC.
Out of its existing 13 power stations, NHPC unilaterally owns four major stations in Jammu & Kashmir – the highest number of power stations owned by the Corporation in any one state besides Himachal Pradesh. These include Salal Power Project with 690 MWs generation capacity, Uri-I with 480 MWs capacity and Dulhasti with 390 MWs and 120-MW Sewa-II.
Out of more than 5175 MWs of its existing generation capacity, NHPC is drawing the highest booty of 1560 MWs of energy from Jammu & Kashmir alone, while rest of the country is contributing just 3615 MWs to the Corporation's power kitty.
The CEA statement said India's power generation grew by 5.2 from 73.3 billion units in December 2011 to 77.1 billion units in December 2012, according to the data released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
The growth in power generation was mainly driven by higher generation from thermal power plants, which contribute over 80% to the country's power generation.
In December 2012, thermal power generation increased by 7.3% over the previous year to 67.8 billion units. During the month, coal-based power generation rose by 13.1%.
Gas-based generation, however, fell by 36.6, the thirteenth month in a row in which the gas-based generation fell. Shortage of natural gas impacted the performance of gas-based power plants.
Nuclear power stations in India generated 2.7 billion units of power in December 2012, a mere 0.7% higher compared to a year ago, the report said.
Lower output from Rajasthan Atomic power station (RAPS) and delay in commissioning of Kudankulam nuclear power project resulted in a slower growth in nuclear power generation.
According to the report, growth in power generation is expected to pick-up in the March 2013 quarter. Higher availability of coal, improvement in hydel power generation and completion of unit 1 of Kudankulam power plant will push total power generation upwards.
In 2012-13 as a whole, total power generation is expected to grow by 6%, the report said.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 1 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 1 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
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