Devender Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Power

India is one of the few countries which have registered an economic growth of above 6 per cent in GDP despite the economic meltdown in the later part of 2008-09. Power is a critical infrastructure element and to sustain a GDP growth rate of 8-9 per cent up to 2031-32, it is estimated that India will have to increase its primary energy supply at least by three to four times and electricity generation capacity by about 6 times. Therefore, we need to address the challenge of significant capacity addition not only to power the growth of the economy but also to promote inclusive growth through rural electrification leading to empowerment and improvement in the living standards. more

On the Fast Track to Powering India

M K Goel, Director (ID&A), Power Finance Corporation

Funds being given to utilities by the Power Finance Corporation, the nodal agency for R-APDRP, for upgrading distribution infrastructure would have to result in actual reduction of AT&C losses on a sustainable basis

Transmission and distribution losses are the major bane of the country; power sector, eating up almost a third of the power generated in the country. To tackle, the government last year approved the Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme (R-APDRP), which seeks to fundamentally change the power landscape over the next few years.
The programme, worth over Rs 500 billion ($10 billion), is being administered by the nodal agency, PFC, which is a premier public sector financial institution in the power sector that provides assistance to State Electricity Boards and also funds institutional development of new projects. For special category states like North East and states like Himachal, there is a 90 per cent grant of the total money. more

The National Electricity Policy envisages “Power for all by 2012” and per capita availability of power to be increased to over 1,000 units by 2011-12. To achieve this, it is proposed to add over 78,000 MW in the 11th Plan, during the first two years of which we have added only 14,000 MW. Again, officially, power has reached 82 per cent of India’s villages. But power cuts averaging 12-16 hours are the reality that most households experience on a daily basis .more

Infrastructure

Power for All: The National Dream The National Electricity Policy envisages “Power for all by 2012” and per capita availability of power to be increased to over 1,000 units by 2011-12. To achieve this, it is proposed to add over 78,000 MW in the 11th Plan, during the first two years of which we have added only 14,000 MW. Again, officially, power has reached 82 per cent of India’s villages. But power cuts averaging 12-16 hours are the reality that most households experience on a daily basis. more

	IT Tools To Improve Valuations Karan Bajwa Head, Public Sector, Microsoft (Corporation India)		Days of Smart Grids Are Here Richard Nijkerk Ferranti Computer System
	Creating a Robust Baseline Data System Arun Kumar Associate Director, KPMG		In the Business of Connecting Arun Bhardwaj Chief Operating Officer, Bharti Airtel Ltd
	Smart Enterprises Pankaj Mathur HP India		Innovative Solutions Anil Daulani Business Head – Power, System Integration Group HCL Infosystems Ltd.