The target is nearly 3.5 per cent higher than the earlier projection of 5,66,590 mu for the current fiscal, according to the latest CEAestimate finalized this month.

The increase will largely be on account of a 13.86 per cent jump in hydro-electric generation.

The revised target for hydel projects for the current fiscal is pegged at 84,000 mu compared with 73,755 mu in 2003-04. Thermal power, which accounts for 85 per cent of the total projected generation, is estimated to increase 4.19 per cent.

Nuclear power generation is, however, projected to decrease 13 per cent during the fiscal to 15,440 mu.

The installed capacity in the hydel sector is estimated to be 31,951 Mega watts by March 2005. The prominent projects through which new capacity will be added are Tehri (500 MW) in Uttaranchal, Dulhasti (390 MW) in Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Sarovar (450 MW) in Gujarat, Indira Sagar (750MW) in Madhya Pradesh and Srisailam (900 MW) in Andhra Pradesh.

The hydel capacity of state projects is estimated at 21,579 MW by the end of the fiscal, while central utilities are projected to have an installed capacity of 9,441 MW and the remaining 930 MW will be contributed by the private sector.

The installed thermal power capacity is estimated at nearly 76,500 MW at the end of March 2005, with 2,430 MW capacity to be added during the course of the fiscal.

POWER PROJECTIONS