Updated on Saturday, July 04, 2009, 19:12 IST

Balutar (Sikkim), July 04: With the country facing acute power shortage, the Centre has set a target of one lakh MW power generation during the 12th five-year plan, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said here on Saturday.

The Centre has decided to up the target for power generation to one lakh MW during the 12th plan as against the target of 78,000 MW in the 11th plan, he said at a function at Balutar, about 35 kms from here, after dedicating to the nation the 510 MW Teesta Stage V hydel plant.

The details of the target will be worked out under the UPA government's 100-day programme, Shinde said adding the Congress-led government proposed to provide one unit power to each household in the country by the year 2012.

Shinde said the 30 per cent increase in power generation under the 12th plan was a realistic endeavour as there were five companies now manufacturing various equipment and allied material for use in power plants as against one company earlier.

A monitoring committee will be set up to ensure that the power generation target could be achieved in the proposed time frame, he said, adding the government will use the vast experience of retired power secretaries for the purpose.

Shinde blamed previous governments for lack of adequate power generation in the country as they had "failed" to deal with the issue on priority basis as evident from the 8th, 9th and 10th five-year plans.

Bureau Report