Essay on Major Power Corporations in India:
The Central participation in the expansion of power generation programme started with the creation of two generating corporations, namely, National Thermal Power Corporation and National Hydro Power Corporation during 1975.
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This gave a fillip to the growth of the power sector in the country. The Nuclear Power Corporation and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited were created to give further boost to the power development programme.
1. National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC):
The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) was incorporated in 1975 as a thermal power generating company. Its ultimate objective is the formation of the National Grid. NTPC is a schedule ‘A’ Navratna company having a total approved investment of Rs. 91619.92 crore.
As a means to achieving this goal, it is responsible for the planning for the construction of thermal power stations, the promotion of new units and better application of technology in the established units and organizing the integrated development of thermal power in the country.
For the tenth consecutive year it has been making profits and is rated as one of the “Navratnas” by the Government of India. The total installed capacity of the company is 39174 MW (including JVS) with 16 coal based and 7 gas station located across the country.
2. Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd:
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Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) is the new name of the National Power Transmission Corporation (NPTC). It is a navratana PSL. It was incorporated on 23 October 1989 with the main objective of setting up transmission lines, substations, load dispatch centres and communication facilities. Power Grid wheels about 45% of the total power generated in the country on its transmission network.
It has a pan India presence with around 71,500 circuit’s kms of transmission network and 120 nos. of substations with a total transformation capacity of 79,500 MVA. Power Grid has diversified with telecom business.
3. National Hydro-Electric Power Corporation:
The National Hydro-electric Power Corporation (NHPC) with an authorised share capital of Rs. 2,000 million has become a major organisation for hydro power development in India, with capabilities to undertake all the activities from concept to commissioning in relation to setting up of Hydro projects. It has been conferred mini ratna status. It is ranked among top companies in the country in terms of investment.
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NHPC has ISO-9001 for its quality management system and ISO 14001 for environment standard with installed capacity of 5295 MW. It has got 14 power stations and an installed capacity of 5295 MW. It has power stations in the following states: (1) J & K (2) H.P. (3) Uttarakhand (4) Arunachal Pradesh (5) Assam (6) Manipur (7) Sikkim (8) W. Bengal.
4. North-Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited:
The North-Eastern Region is blessed with the highest hydro power potential in the country which is estimated at about 1130 MW i.e. almost 40% of the country’s total hydro potential. Out of which less than two per cent of this potential (1095 MW) has so far been harnessed. Besides this, there is considerable thermal power potential, mainly in terms of gas reserves.
As per the report status of Hydro Electric Power Potential listed by CEA as on 31-10-2006, only 7% (4029 MW) capacity has been tapped. With a need to develop this huge power potential, North-Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) was incorporated on 2 April 1976 as a wholly-owned Government enterprise under the Ministry of Power, to plan, promote, investigate, survey, design, construct, generate, operate and maintain power stations in the NE Region.
NEEPCO authorised share capital is Rs 500 Crore at present and it not worth as on 31st march 2011 is Rs 4619.14 Crores.
5. Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited:
The Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) Ltd. (formerly Nathpa Jhakri Power Corporation Ltd.) was incorporated on 24 May 1988 as a joint venture of the Government of India (GOI) and the Government of Himachal Pradesh (GOHP) to plan, investigate, organise, execute, operate and maintain hydro-electric power projects in the Satluj basin in the Himachal Pradesh.
The present authorised share capital of SJVN is Rs. 4,500 crore. The equity-sharing ratio of GOI and GOHP is 3:1 respectively. In addition to the financial assistance from the World Bank, SJVN is also supported by a Consortium of European Banks and the PFC.
The 1500 mw, Nathpa Jhakri Hydro-electric Power Project is the first project undertaken by SJVN. In addition to other project components, the Nathpa Jhakri project consists of an underground Desilting Complex, comprising four chambers, each 525m long, 16.31m wide and 27.5 m deep which is one of the largest underground complexes for the generation of hydro power in the world and a 10.15m dia and 27.4 km long Head Race Tunnel (one of the longest power tunnels in the world).
Besides the social and economic upliftment of the people in its vicinity, on commissioning, the 1,500 MW, NJHPP will generate 6,950 Ml) of energy. It would also provide 1,500 MW of valuable peaking power to the Northern Grid.
SJVN is also planning to take up the execution of more projects in the Satluj river basin in the Himachal Pradesh. In the 11th FYP, SJVN will also complete the Luhri and Khab Hydro Electric Projects in H P. and the Devsari, Naitwar Mori and Jokhol Sankri Hydro Electric Projects in Uttaranchal.
6. Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited:
The THDC, a Joint Venture Corporation of the Government of India and Government of U.P., was incorporated in July 1988, to Plan, promote and organise an integrated and efficient development of hydro resources of Bhagirathi river and its tributaries at Tehri and complementary downstream development (the Tehri Complex) for power generation and other purposes in all its aspects and to undertake in a similar manner the development and harnessing of such hydroelectric sites/projects in Bhagirathi/Bhilangana valleys as may be entrusted by the state government.
The Corporation has an authorised share capital of Rs. 4,000 crore. The Corporation is presently engaged in the implementation of Tehri Hydro Power Complex (2,400 MW) comprising of Tehri Dam and HPP, Stage-I (1,000 MW) and 400 MW Koteshwar HE Project and Tehri Pumped Storage Plant (1,000 MW). Two units of 250 MW each were successfully rolled on 31 March 2006.
With this commissioning process.of Tehri Stage-I project has started. All four machines of Tehri Powerr Station are under commercial operations. As on July 2009, Tehri Power Station has generated 7,350.13 MU of electrical energy.
The Tehri Hydro Power Complex (2,400 MW) will generate 6,200 million units of energy per year on its completion (3,568 million units on completion of Tehri Stage-I) and will provide addition irrigation facility to 2.70 lakh ha. Besides stabilising existing irrigation facility in 6.04 lakh ha, of land. The Project will provide drinking water facilities for 40 lakh people in Delhi and for 30 lakh people in town and villages of Uttarakhand.
7. Damodar Valley Corporation:
The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), the first multipurpose river valley project of the Government was set up in July 1948 for the unified development of Damodar Valley region spread over the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal on the model of Tennessee Valley Corporation. DVC’s objectives include flood control and irrigation, water supply and drainage, generation, transmission and distribution of electrical energy, both hydroelectric and thermal, afforestation and control of soil erosion, public health and agricultural, industrial, economic well-being in the Damodar Valley.
The DVC’s main projects include four dams at Maithon, Panchet, Tilaiya and Konar, with connected hydro-electric power stations (except at Konar), thermal power station at Bokaro ‘A’, Bokaro ‘B’ Chandrapura, Durgapur,, Mejia and also one gas turbine station at Maithon.
DVC supplies power to coal mines, steel plants, railways and other big industries, besides State electricity Boards Jharkhand and West Bengal. DVC EMTA Coalmines Ltd. is a Joint Venture Co. formed with Eastern Minerals and Trading Agency for the development of captive coal mines.
8. Bhakra Beas Management Board:
The Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB) manages the facilities created for harnessing the waters impounded at Bhakra and Pong in addition to those diverted at Pondoh through the BSL Water Conductor System. It was also assigned the responsibility of delivering water and power to the beneficiary states in accordance with their entitled shares.
The Board is responsible for the administration, maintenance and operation at Bhakra Nangal Projects, Beas Project Unit I & Unit II including, Power House and a network of transmission lines and grid sub-stations.
The power generation of BBMB power stations is being evacuated through BBMB power evacuation system running into 3,755 circuit km length of 400 KV, 220 KV, 132 KV and 66 KV transmission lines and 24 EHV sub-stations.
The generation capacity of BBMB power plants is 2,866.30 MW The generation during 2008-09 was 1008.3 and is planned 1005.00 (MUs) in 2009-10. The states of Punjab Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi are being supplied, on an average about 34,537.49 MCM (28 MAF) of water per year.