Power crisis in India is always a burning issue. With the demand for power growing manifold day by day, the need for round the clock availability of power has become more and more relevant. With the launch of the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), power outages will be a thing of past. Moving towards Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi-led government's objective to provide 24x7 power supply, the Union Cabinet has recently approved multiple schemes to improve transmission and distribution networks across the length and breadth of the country. The Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) is one of the flagship schemes of the Ministry of Power and will be at the core attempt to ensure 24x7 power for all.
The IPDS announced in the Union Budget 2014-15 envisages strengthening of sub-transmission network, Metering, IT application, Customer Care Services, provisioning of solar panels and the completion of the ongoing works of Restructured Accelerated Power Development and completion of the Reforms Programme (RAPDRP). The scheme will help in reduction in AT&C losses, establishment of IT enabled energy accounting / auditing system, improvement in billed energy based on metered consumption and improvement in collection efficiency. The estimated cost of the present scheme with the components of strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution networks, including metering of consumers in the urban areas is Rs. 32,612 crore which includes the requirement of budgetary support from Government of India of Rs. 25,354 crore over the entire implementation period. The component of IT enablement of distribution sector and strengthening of distribution network approved by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in June, 2013 in the form of RAPDRP for 12th and 13th Plans will get subsumed in this scheme and CCEA-approved scheme outlay of Rs.44, 011 crore including a budgetary support of Rs. 22,727 crore will be carried over to the new scheme of IPDS.
Eligible Utilities :
All Discoms including private Discoms and State Power Departments will be eligible for financial assistance under this scheme. Discoms will prioritize strengthening of urban infrastructure work considering specific network requirement and will formulate Detailed Project Reports for the projects for coverage under this scheme. Projects under this Scheme will be completed within a period of 24 months from date of issue of Letter of Awards. Power Finance corporation is the nodal agency for operationalisation of this scheme.
Funding Pattern:
Grant portion of the Scheme is 60% for other than special category States (up to 75% on achievement of prescribed milestones) and 85 % for Special category States (up to 90% on achievement of prescribed milestones). The milestones for the additional grant are : timely completion of the scheme, reduction in AT&C losses as per trajectory and upfront release of subsidy by State government. All North Eastern States including Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are included in special category States.
Tripartite/Bipartite agreement:
Suitable Tripartite agreement will be executed between Power Finance Corporation as the nodal agency of the Ministry of Power, the State Government and the Discom to ensure implementation of the scheme in accordance with the guidelines prescribed under the scheme. Bipatite agreement will be executed in case of State Power departments.
Model Benchmark:
A model benchmark for power systems in urban areas which sets standards in items like digital/ prepaid metering ,underground cabling of 11KV and LT lines, limits for AT&C losses etc will be prepared by Central Electricity Authority within 5th January 2015.
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