NHPC to generate 810 MW power for state

bangalore: the national hydro-power corporation (nhpc) will generate 810 mw power under the second phase of the upper krishna project in karnataka, nhpc chairman and managing director yogendra prasad said here on friday. speaking at a one-day seminar on "power generation-global trend and managing transition," organised by the karnataka power corporation limited (kpcl), prasad said karnataka had wide hydro-electric potential of 7,750 mw of which only 2,250 mw was developed."power generation is not on par with the requirement in this state. kptc needs 1,079 mw power in five years and 2,657 mw in the next 10 years. a lot needs to be done to boost power generation," he maintained. absence of grid discipline, inadequate inter-regional connections, annual power theft amounting to rs 20,000 crore coupled with huge transmission and distribution (t&d) losses had led to several states grappling with power problems, according to him. power reforms, prasad said, must start from distribution end for better revenue end realisation and states electricity boards must be re-organised on commercial principles. outlining the importance of hydro-power for energy starved states, he said it is renewable, saves scarce fuel reserves and the cost of generation is free from inflationary effects. 10,000 dams must be constructed: chairman of the world commission on dams c.v.j. varma said india had no alternative but to develop hydro resources so as to deplete the coal reserves. the food demand will increase by 37 per cent during the next 50 years but the energy consumption would double by the year 2020. pointing out that india was one of the countries which would face severe shortage of water in the coming years, he said we must add at least 10,000 dams to store them for the future.