THE GOVERNMENT’S neglect has nearly halted the growth of a clean energy sector that can produce power round the clock and ensure power supply in areas difficult to access. Small hydropower (SHP) projects were not always low on the government’s agenda, but since the National Democratic Alliance came to power at the Centre in 2014, India has just added 860 MW to its SHP capacity.
India categorises hydel plants of up to 25 MW capacity as SHP. These run on small turbines and do not require damming a river. Their environmental impact, therefore, is negligible. Despite these factors, in 2014, the government reduced the modest target of 7 GW of SHP capacity by 2017, as envisaged under the 12th Five Year Plan, to 5 GW by 2022. As of December 2019, India has an installed SHP capacity of 4.67 GW. The capacity addition in financial year 2019-20 has been just 83.4 MW till January 2020. Most of the addition since 2014 is from the projects that were started before 2014 and are being commissioned now. The average installation of 265 MW per year from 2007-08 to 2015-16 has reduced by 60 per cent to about 105 MW per year in the last four financial years (see ‘Steep fall’). What triggered the decline?
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 01, 2020 من Down To Earth.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 01, 2020 من Down To Earth.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
PLAN THEM COOL
As urban India turns into a heat trap, the government must focus on improving cities' liveability
LOOK BEYOND DUST
Reinvent National Clean Air Programme to focus on fine particulate matter and trans-boundary pollution
Vision 2030
Economic growth must take into account needs of energy transition, climate mitigation, with action aligned as per India's 2030 climate goals
FIX OUR FOOD
Chemical-dependent farming, lax labelling laws, rising anti-microbial resistance must top the agenda
BATTLE THE CAR BULGE
Clean, affordable, integrated and accessible public transport the only solution
CONSERVE NOW
Disregard for biodiversity conservation over the past two decades needs immediate redressal
SCRAP THE DUMP
Disincentivise garbage dumping, invest in behavioural change
THINK LONG-TERM
India needs continued emphasis on flagship programmes, aligned to long-term planning that focusses on water security and circular economy in a climate-risked era
OVERHAUL OVERDUE
Hold polluting industries accountable for public health risks, environmental hazards, climate change; provide them support for green transition
IT'S NOW OR NEVER
Clean energy sectors need demand-driven markets and domestic industries that can cater to the entire value chain
