Capacity addition target failed due to bureaucratic approach-AIPEF
Vinod Kumar Gupta, 20-Apr-2012 07:16:34 AM

Capacity addition target failed due to bureaucratic approach-AIPEF

Friday April 20, 2012

Lucknow

The capacity addition targets of 11th. Five year plan in highly technical power sector failed due to bureaucratic approach of Government.

Shaliender Dubey Secretary General All India Power Engineers Federation in a letter addressed to Prime Minister claim if country wants to achieve power Sector targets, Government of India and state governments have to show the sense of urgency in this matter so that Power Sector of the country is managed in professional manner like other developing and developed countries of the world.

11th five year plan original target of generation capacity addition was 78577 MW which was reduced to 62000 MW, in mid term appraisal but at the end country could add only 54000MW new capacity. Eyeing this failure now capacity addition target for 12th five year plan has been set as 76000 MW. No one knows that with bureaucratic approach in highly technical power sector, 12th plan target may also meet the same fate.

Dubey maintained that expediting capacity addition and reducing AT&C losses in the Power Sector involves challenging task which can not be handled by IAS bureaucrats who are generalists. If Government is really serious to overcome the growing shortage of Power, then the role of Power secretary and Chairman/CMD of Power utilities is very critical. Only experienced Power Engineers at the helm of affairs would entail faster decision making which is requirement of the time in Power sector.

Dubey alleged that most of the states are following adhocism by appointing middle level and very junior level IAS officers as Power secretary & CMD/MD of Power utilities. These IAS officers are enjoying all powers without any responsibility as they pass their time in power department and get transferred before facing the outcome of their deeds.