Expressing displeasure over delay in green power projects, OERC has directed the state government to finalise guidelines for development of small hydro power projects soon.
BHUBANESWAR: Expressing displeasure over delay in green power projects, Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) has directed the state government to finalise guidelines for development of small hydro power projects soon, official sources said on Thursday.
Acting on a petition filed by developers of small hydro-projects below 25 mw capacity, the OERC ordered for a pro-active and transparent action in ensuring implementation of projects.
The developers claimed though they had submitted feasibility and detailed project reports with the state government, they were neither cleared nor rejected. They urged the OERC to come to their rescue.
Orissa's Energy Minister S N Patro said that the government had already sanctioned 27 small hydro-projects of which three would become operational in four months.
Patro, however, said nearly 20 other projects could not progress due to lack of approval from the water resource department.
Many DPRS by private developers for small hydro electricity projects were, on the other hand, were gathering dust for more than three years due to delay in approval by the state technical committee, sources said.
As there was no special cell available in the water resource department to deal with such projects, they remained unattended, they said.
On government's stand of carefully scrutinising projects, it said "care and caution cannot be excuse for gross carelessness and inaction."
Asking the state government to take a proactive and transparent action, the OERC apprehended that its target of procuring three per cent of power from renewable energy sources of the total power purchased in 2007-08, could not be met if the work went on the existing pace.
The state government was asked to stress on the generation of power from renewable energy sources like water, wind and solar in consonance with the national electricity policy and the Electricity Act, 2003, to promote green and clean power production and use.
Asking different departments to maintain coordination among themselves, the commission observed "the general lack of enthusiasm on part of the government agencies and bureaucratic hurdles is the great dampener upon renewable energy development and stifling all efforts in procurement of such energy."
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