JOIN USAddressing a review meeting attended by senior ministry officials and representatives of state-run power generation units, the Minister said he would personally monitor the progress to ensure the target is met.
During the meeting, officials also examined the reasons for delays in implementing projects, including hold ups in placing orders, shortage of fuel and skilled manpower, contractual disputes, problems in land acquisition and coal linkages.
The minister said such issues must be addressed faster so as to meet the target of generating 78,700 MW of additional power during the 11th five year plan. India currently has an installed capacity of 1,48,265 MW.
In his earlier tenure as Power Minister during UPA's first term, Shinde was heavily criticised for his failure to implement projects.
During that period, several key projects languished in cold storage as the country faced severe power shortages each summer.
Though global economic melt-down and shortage of power equipment manufacturers were cited as reasons for slow progress, poor decision making and lack of monitoring at the topmost level also contributed to the ministry's abysmal performance.