TRANSMISSION CAPACITY ADDITIONS DURING 9^TH PLAN PERIOD (1997-2002)

The programme for construction of transmission works in the 9^th plan period for evacuation of power from generating stations as well as for strengthening of system was developed initially on the basis of 52310.2 MW. For this additional generating capacity, the requirement of transmission network (220 kV and above) was 76878 ckm of transmission lines and 171900 MVA of transformation capacity. A midterm review was carried out and accordingly the additional generating capacity for the 9^th plan was assessed as 25000 MW. For this modified generating capacity the proposed transmission works were 39011 ckm of transmission lines and 57807 MVA transformation capacity. The ultimate generation capacity finally installed was 19,119 MW. In the light of the above and due to the other constraints such as availability of funds, the addition in transmission was 34093 ckm and in the transformation capacity 56147 MVA. The details are furnished below:-

Growth during 9^th plan period :-

The growth of transmission line capacity during the 9^th plan period vis-à-vis 8^th plan period was 38.5%. Similarly, the growth in transformation capacity during the same plan period was 40.6%. The year wise and voltage wise performance indices of transmission lines and transformation capacity are furnished below:

 Salient features of 9^th Plan:-

The emergence of 800 kV voltage level in the Indian Power System was an important milestone during this plan period as 1160 CKM of 800 kV lines were constructed though these are expected to be operated presently at 400 kV level. The consolidation of ± 500 kV HVDC lines along with HVDC converter terminals was another achievement.

Besides the above 1500 MW HVDC B/B substations at the following locations were also added to facilitate the regulated transfer of power between the regions:

1. Chanderapur(1000 MW)
2. Gajuwaka(500 MW).

The Utility wise and year wise achievements for 9^th plan period are furnished in table 2.1. The complete details of the transmission lines and transformation capacity completed in all respects are furnished in Annexure – I.

Brief evaluation of transmission construction regime during 9^th plan: -

In spite of the fact that programme envisaged during various years of the 9^th plan period have been met, yet there still remains some inadequacies/missing links/ bottlenecks at the end of the 9^th plan from the planning perspective and thus affecting the stability of the Power System network. The main causes for the non-attainment of transmission works as envisaged at the beginning of 9^th plan are as follows:

1. Delay in the commissioning of the generating projects.
2. Setback to the transmission programme due to imposition of sanctions by the foreign financial institutions after Pokharan Nuclear Test.
3. Delay in sanctioning of funds by foreign financial institutions.
4. Availability of funds with the utilities.
5. Contractual, ROW, law and order problems and court cases.
6. Delay in forest clearance.
7. Dropping of transmission works by the utilities on account of non-development of the load in the area/region.

It may, however, not be out of place to mention here that the transmission schemes are sanctioned by the State Utilities under section 28 of Electricity (Supply) Act 1948. However, the schemes estimated to involving a capital expenditure exceeding Rs. 250 crores are submitted to the Authority for concurrence. The State Utilities sanction such schemes only after seeking the concurrence from the Authority. It may, therefore, be seen that the final act of sanctioning of the schemes rests with the Power Utilities and thus they become the focal point for all information.