States asked to forego free power to make hydro projects viable
New Delhi: The Centre is persuading state governments to forego their share of free power from hydroelectric plants to make the projects viable and put the hydropower sector on track. It proposes to hold a formal interaction on the issue with state governments at the ensuing review meeting in Gujarat between Union power minister RK Singh and power ministers of states.
India is targeting production of 75,000 MW of hydropower by 2030, up from 45,000 MW at present, to balance the electricity grid as the country aims to add 175 GW of renewable capacity.
A senior government official said the states are being held asked to forego or defer their free power shares only to the extent required to make the tariffs affordable.
