The government today said that 2,000 Mw proposed hydro power projects may get delayed due to environmental issues.
"About 2,000 Mw hydro power projects, which are scheduled in the next plan period (2012-17), are likely to get delayed due to environmental issues," G B Pradhan Additional Secretary Power Secretary told reporters here.
Power Ministry has chalked out a plan to set up about 8,000 Mw hydel projects in the country by the end of the XIIth Plan Period (2012-17).
In order to tap the huge hydro-electric potential in the north-eastern region, various public sector companies like NHPC and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) have shown keen interest in setting up the power projects.
NHPC is constructing a 2,000-Mw project on the Subansiri river in Assam, while the NEEPCO is constructing the 600-Mw Kameng hydel project.
The region, according to government data, has a hydro power potential of 58,000 Mw and offers great opportunity to both PSUs and the private sector to harness this.
The government plans to add about 1,00,000 Mw power capacity during the next plan period of which a lion's share would come from thermal power projects.
