29% of India’s hydropower potential already utilised
According to Singh, out of the 1,45,320 MW total, 42,104.6 MW (or 29%) has been developed, while 15,023.5 MW (10.3%) is now being built. He informed the House that according to data from the International Hydropower Association (IHA), the US and the EU (European Union) have each developed more than 80% of their hydropower potential.
According to him, the country's distant position, uncertain geology, natural disasters, concerns with the environment and forests, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) issues, law and order issues, and inter-state disputes are the key obstacles to the development of its hydropower potential. Singh informed the House in a separate response that as of March 14, 2023, the country's thermal power plants had a total coal stock of 33.3 MT (million tonnes), which is only 49% of the Normative Stock Requirement.
The Central Electricity Authority's coal stocking regulations require power stations to keep a variable amount of coal on hand each month. In order to ensure that there is enough coal stock at power plants to meet demand, it was stated that the stocking norms are 20 to 26 days for non-pithead facilities and 12 to 17 days for pithead plants.