Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:-

(a) whether it is a fact that Government has not been able to identify the sites for 10 Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPPs) that were proposed to be set-up;

(b) if so, the reasons therefor;

(c) the number of cases in which sites for such projects have, so far, been identified and bids from private companies, etc., invited and finalized with the details of each case; and

(d) the action proposed in finalizing other such projects during 2008-09?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF POWER
( SHRI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE )

(a) to (d) : After finalization of sites in consultation with the States, bidding process has been initiated in respect of four Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPPs). Out of these four, bidding process in respect of UMPPs to be located in Sasan (Madhya Pradesh), Mundra (Gujarat) and Krishnapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) has been completed and the Special Purpose Vehicles have been transferred to Reliance Power Limited in respect of Sasan and Krishnapatnam UMPPs and to Tata Power Company Limited in respect of Mundra UMPP, being the successful developers identified through tariff based competitive bidding process. The bidding process in respect of the fourth project namely, Tillaiya UMPP is currently in progress.

Among the remaining projects, Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has identified a suitable site for setting up of an UMPP in Orissa in consultation with the State Government. However, the approval for the identified site and for water allocation for the proposed UMPP has not been provided by the Government of Orissa so far. For the Chhattisgarh UMPP, a site has been short listed in consultation with the State Government.

The finalization and initiation of the bidding process for setting up of UMPPs in the States of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka are contingent upon necessary inputs/clearances from the respective State Governments.