19. In the preparation of the plans of different States, in addition to the requirements of additional irrigation and the level of development already attained, the capacity for implementing the proposed programmes has been taken into consideration. The size of Programme of the different States in the second plan is shown in Statement IV in the Annexure.
20. Major and Minor Irrigation Projects.-In the Irrigation programme, there is need for a careful balance between major and minor irrigation schemes, which are complementary in character and scope. Each area has to be served by the kind of schemes, for which it offers suitable. facilities. The first five year plan provided for 7 irrigation projects costing more than Rs. 30 crores, 6 irrigation projects costing between Rs. 10 crores and Rs. 30 crores, 4 costing between Rs. 5 crores and Rs. 10 crores, 50 costing between Rs. 1 crore and Rs. 5 crores each and about 200 costing less than Rs. 1 crore. Although as much as Rs. 340 crores will have been spent during the first plan, by 1956 the additional irrigation will amount to about 6.3 million acres, compared to a potential of about 22 million acres. Projects carried over from the first plan will call for an outlay of Rs. 209 crores during the second plan, out of a total provision in the plan of Rs. 416 crores. Both for ensuring a sequence of irrigation benefits and for financial and economic considerations, it was essential that in the second plan, in selecting new projects, preference should be given to medium-sized-projects. At the same time, minor irrigation works will continue to occupy a prominent place in the programme of irrigation.
21. Both major and minor irrigation works have relative advantages of their own. The major schemes
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IRRIGATION AND POWER
utilise surplus river waters which would otherwise run to waste, they benefit large areas, give surer protection in years of scarcity, and can often be designed for multiple uses. Minor schemes require comparatively small outlay, yield quick results and can be executed speedily with local resources. But they give limited protection and need careful maintenance. The Grow More Food Enquiry Committee observed in 1952 that many minor irrigation works constantly fell into derelict condition. In view of the large sums being spent on these works, there is need for special measures to ensure thier satisfactory maintenance. It is necessary that the responsibility for keeping minor works in good condition should be borne by the beneficiaries. For works which benefit a considerable section of the village population, efficient maintenance should be the joint responsibility of the local community. We recommended that State Governments should take power to levy a special maintenance cess, from the proceeds of which village panchayats separately and jointly can undertake the necessary repairs and renovations.
22. Economy in use of irrigation supplies.-The need to use the available supplies of water with greater economy and efficiency than was customary was stressed in the first five year plan. Optimum use of available irrigation supplies presents two sets of problems, agricultural and engineering. Agricultural aspects such as water requirements of crops in relation to system of irrigation; frequency of watering, methods of cultivation, application of fertilizers etc. are being studied in the Indian Agricultural Research Institute at Delhi and other research stations in States. The work will be continued in the second plan.
23. Larger areas can be irrigated from existing supplies by reducing absorbtion losses on canals, branches, distributaries and more especially, on water courses. It was recommended in the first five year plan that consideration might be given to the possibility of lining of irrigation channels, and lining carried out where justified on economical grounds. Except in a few States, inadequate progress has been made in this direction. This aspect may be given further consideration in the second plan. Economy in use of water can also be obtained by the proper alignment of water courses. The agency of the national extension service could given useful help in alignments as well as in the construction and maintenance of water courses.
TUBEWELLS 24. There were about 2,500 tubewells in India prior to 1951, about 2,300 of which were in the Uttar Pradesh. These tubewells irrigated about a million acres. The first plan provided for the construction of 2,650 tubewells under the Indo-U.S. Technical Cooperation Programme, 700 tubewells under the grow-more-food programme and 2,480 tubewells in the development plans of States. The number of tubewells to be constructed in different States and the progress made upto the end of 1955 are given below:-
Indo-U.S.Technical G.M.F.
State Cooperation Scheme Programme State plans
No. No. com- No. No. com- No. No. com-
allotted pleted allotted pleted Allotted pleted
Bihar 385 378 .. .. 424 424
U.P. 1275 1094 420 93 1400 1165
Punjab 530 445 150 .. 256 256
PEPSU 460 369 130 .. .. ..
Bombay .. .. .. .. 400 198
TOTAL 2650 2286 700 93 2480 2043
The additonal irrigated area by these tubewells will be about 2 million acres on completion and full development.
25. As a result of technological advances in tubewell engineering, the possibilities of utilisation of underground waters have appreciably increased. A programme for drilling 350 deep exploratory tubewells for assessing the possibilities of exploiting ground water resources for irrigation was begun during the first plan. Explorations have been conducted at 22 sites so far and will be continued in the second plan.
26. The programme for the second plan provides for the construction of 3581 tubewells. The total outlay on these tubewells will be about Rs. 20 crores, which has been included in the provision under the minor irrigation programme which forms part of the Agriculture sector, and the irrigation expected therefrom is 916,000 acres. The distribution of these tubewells by State is shown below:
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SECOND FIVE YEAR PLAN
Name of State Number Estimated Area to be Approxi-
of tube- cost irrigated mate num-
wells (Rs. lakhs) (000 acres) ber of ex-
ploratory
tubewell
borings
Andhra .. .. .. 25
Assam 50 30 15 15
Bihar 150 10 15 16
Bombay 330 150 66 15
Madhya Pradesh and Bhobal 98 70 39 30
Madras 300 75 6 50
Orissa 25 20 7 20
Punjab 466 280 77 46
Uttar Pradesh 1500 1050 485 47
West Bengal 150 100 32 37
PEPSU 292 150 133 5
Rajasthan 50 35 16 5
Saurashtra 70 25 14 10
Travancore-Cochin .. .. .. 5
Delhi 50 21.5 8 ..
Kutch .. .. .. 10
Pondicherry 50 12.5 3 ..
Other areas .. .. .. 14
TOTAL 3581 2029 916 350
27. Outside Punjab, Pepsu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and the northern part of Gujarat in Bombay, over large areas underground conditions need to be studied. This is the object of the exploratory tubewell scheme. The tubewell programmes which have been drawn up in several states may require modification according to the results of investigations.
28. The cost of irrigation by tubewells is generally higher than that of irrigation by gravity canals. Studies in the economics of irrigation by tubewells have been initiated by States at the suggestion of the Planning Commission. These need to be followed up systematically and their results published, since in regions which cannot be commanded by gravity canals, tubewell irrigation will become increasingly important.
II
POWER
POWER RESOURCES 29. Although a complete field survey has not so far been undertaken, some progress has been made during the first plan in making a preliminary assessment of the hydroelectric potential in the country. General studies have been made on the power potential of the cast and west flowing rivers of south India and the rivers of central India. Similar work has been begun on the Himalayan and other river systems in northern India. It has been estimated that the total hydroelectric potential, which it might be possible to develop from various likely sites, is about 35 million kW. This includes about 4 million kW from the west flowing rivers and about 7 million kW from the east flowing rivers of the southern region, about 4 million kW from the Narmada, Tapti, Mahanadi, Brahmini and Baitarni basins in the central region and about 20 million kW from the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Indus and other Himalayan rivers in the northern & north-eastern regions. The potential of the southern and central regions, has been estimated from the available data and topographical maps. On the other hand, the potential of the Himalayan rivers can be indicated only in a rough way, as studies in respect of the region are still in progress. A further stage of study, which it is hoped to begin during the second plan, is to re-examine the potential on the basis of more detailed considerations such as the economics of development, period of construction, load demand and other local limiting factors.
30. Side by side with the development of water power, coal fired thermal stations will continue to be important sources of electrical energy in this country. With about 40,000 million tons of known coal reserves of steam and non-coking varieties and possibilities of further reserves of lignite, no difficulty in meeting the coal requirements for power generation is anticipated in the foreseeable future. Only about 10 per cent. of the coal raised is being used for power generation at present, and, as coal production steadily increases, the-proportion required for power generation is not likely to exceed this percentage. Power generation from diesel oil is at present limited to small isolated installations. During the next few years it is unlikely that diesel power generation will be used for power development on any large scale.
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IRRIGATION AND POWER
31. While the coal and hydro resources of the country are sufficient to meet the overall power requirements during the next few decades, there are, nevertheless, certain industrially developing zones which are remote from coalfields and where the hydro potential may either not be available or may have been already developed. In such areas, because of its substantially lower coal of fuel, atomic power may pro fitably supplement thermal power for generating elec- tricity. Capital costs are still somewhat higher for atomic than for thermal power stations, but this difference may be offset in varying degrees by other economies. The country has adequate resources of uranium and thorium for developing this new source of energy. Atomic power might be expected to begin supplementing power from other sources during the next few years.
EXISTING DEVELOPMENT 32. At the beginning of the first five year plan, the total installed capacity of power generating plant was 2.3 million kW of which 1.7 million kW was in electricity supply undertakings in the public and private sectors and 0.6 million kW in industrial establish- ments generating their own power. The target for the first five year plan was 1.3 million kW, of which 1.1. million kW was to be provided in the public sector and 200,000 kW by private electricity supply com- panies. Of this target, the public sector has achieved about 800,000 kW and the private sector 200,000 kW. In addition, work on power plants with an aggregate capacity of about 200,000 kW has been almost completed in the public sector and these will be commissioned before the end of 1956. No targets had been set for power plants in industrial establishments. A number of them have closed down their less economic generating plants and changed over to bulk supply from public utility grid systems. However, during the first plan there was a net increase of about 100,000 kW in the power plant capacity of industrial establishments bringing the total capacity to 700,000 kW in March, 1956. The position in respect of installed capacity and electrical energy generated at the beginning and at the end of the first five year plan is stated below:-
1950-51 1955-56 Percentage
increase
during the
first plan.
(1) Installed capacity kW in millions
Public utility undertakings:
(a) State-owned 0.6 1.4 133
(b) Company-owned 1.1 1.3 18
Self generating industrial
establishments 0.6 0.7 17
TOTAL 2.3 3.4 48
(2) Energy generated (kWh in millions)
Public utility undertakings:
(a) State-owned 2104 4500 114
(b) Company-owned 3003 4300 43
Self generating industrial
establishments 1468 2200 50
TOTAL 6575 11,000 67
33. The principal power schemes completed and brought into service during the first plan are:
1. Nangal (Punjab) 48,000 kW
2. Bokaro (Bihar) 150,000 kW
3. Chola (Kalyan, Bombay) 54,000 kW
4. Khaperkheda (Madhya Pradesh) 30,000 kW
5. Moyar (Madras) 36,000 kW
6. Madras City Plant Extensions
(Madras) 30,000 kW
7. Machkund (Andhra & Orissa) 34,000 kW
8. Pathri (Uttar Pradesh 13,600 kW
9. Sarda ( Do. ) 27,600 kW
10. Sengulam (Travancore-Cochin) 48,000 kW
11. Jog (Mysore) 72,000 kW
In addition, considerable progress has been made on a number of major projects which will be completed during the second five year plan. The Bhakra, Hirakud, Koyna, Chambal, and Rihand come within this group and from all of these about 1.7 million kW of power generating capacity is expected to be added during the second plan. A detailed list of these continuing schemes is given in statement V, in the Annexure.
34. Satisfactory progress has also been made in the construction of transmission lines for expanding the grid systems in the country. About 19,000 miles of sub-transmission and transmission lines of 11 kV and above, have been added during the first plan, representing an increase of 100 per cent over that of 1951.
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SECOND FIVE YEAR PLAN
35. There has also been a marked increase in the number of towns and villages which are served with electric power as will be seen from the following table:-
1950-51* 1955-56
Total number Number Total Number
Population according to electrified number electrified
1941 as at according as at
census March 1951 to 1951 March
census 1956
Over 1,00,000 49 49 73 73
50,000 to 1,00,000 88 88 111 111
20,000 to 50,000 277 240 401 366
10,000 to 20,000 607 260 856 350
5,000 to 10,000 2367 258 3101 1200
Less than 5,000 559062 2792 556565 5300
562450 3687 561107 7400
*NOTE:-The electricity statistics available for 1950-51 are based on the number of villages as per 1941 census only, in view of the time lag in the publication of 1951 census data.
The total number of communities with a population of less than 10,000 which have received electricity has been more than doubled during the first plan period. The actual number of electrified villages with a population of less than 5000 has increased from 2792 to 5300.
36. As a result of the generation and distribution programmes referred to above, the per capita consumption in the country has increased from 14 units in 1950-51 to 25 in 1955-56.
37. The total plan provision for expenditure on power projects included in the first five year plan amounted to Rs. 260 crores including the proportionate cost of multipurpose projects. In major river valley projects like Bhakra-Nangal, D.V.C., Hirakud, Chambal, Koyna, Rihand, etc., where extensive civil works were involved, considerable delay was experienced during the initial stages in completing the investigations, in revising the scope of the projects and in setting up the necessary organisation for their execution. In addition, as the country had to depend largely on imported machinery and equipment for generation and transmission of power, delays occur- red due to protracted deliveries from foreign manufacturers. Difficulties in the procurement of key materials like steel and cement were also experienced to some extent Despite these difficulties, the progress on the power programme during the first plan period has been fairly satisfactory.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENT 38. Planning for power projects is a continuous process and has to be based on long-term objectives. At the time of formulation of the first plan, the 15-year target for additional power capacity was set at 7 million kW. In view of the progress which has been made and the growing demand for power from industry, small towns and rural areas, this target has to be revised upwards. So far as can be ascertained at the present time, for the second and third plans, it will be necessary to set forth, as an objective of planning, a rate of increase of about 20 per cent. annually in the installed capacity of public utility undertakings. On this basis, the tentative target for 1965 would be to raise the total installed capacity in the country to about 15 million kW. In the nature of things a target such as this cannot be regarded as being rigid; adjustment will certainly be needed from time to time so as to take, account of changes in the scope of industrial programmes, location of industrial units and the growth and pattern of consumption.
PROGRAMMES FOR THE SECOND PLAN 39. Power plant capacity and generation.-The power development programme under the second plan is intended to fulfil three aims:
(a) to meet the normal load growth in the existing power systems,
(b) to provide the requisite capacity for reasonable expansion of the areas of supply, and
(c) to meet the needs of industries which are to be established under the second five year plan.
40. It is estimated that about 1.4 million kW. of additional power demand will arise on account of the normal development of medium and small industries and of commercial and domestic consumption. In addition to this, a further demand of 1.3 million kW is expected on account of new programmes of industrial development included in the second plan. Making allowance for the requisite standby capacity and for seasonal variations in water flow conditions in hydroelectric installations, it is estimated that an addition of 3.5 million kW will be required during the next five
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IRRIGATION AND POWER
years. As more systematic load surveys are undertaken and details of industrial programmes are determined, these estimates may have to be reviewed. Out of the total requirement of 3.5 million kW of installed power plant capacity, 2.9 million kW will come from State-owned undertakings, 300,000 kW from companies in the electricity supply industry and the remaining 300,000 kW from the lignite project and from steel, cement paper and other factories which will have their own generating plant. The result of these programmes will be to increase the total installed capacity of power plant in the country from 3.4 million kW in March, 1956 to 6.9 million kW by March, 1961. The amount of energy generated is expected to increase from about 11,000 million units in 1955-56, to 22,000 million units in 1960-61. Corresponding to the programme of development indicated above the per capita consumption of electricity is expected to increase from 25 units at the end of the first plan to about 50 units at the end of the second plan. The details of the proposed increase in generating capacity and energy generated are given below:-
1955-56 1960-61 Percentage
increase
during the
second
plan
______________ ____________ ____________
(1) Installed capacity (kW in millions)
Public utility undertakings:
(a) State-owned 1.4 4.3 207
(b) Company-owned 1.3 1.6 23
Self-generating industrial esta- 43
blishments....... 0.7 1.0
__________ __________ _______
TOTAL . 3.4 6.9 103
__________ __________ _______
(2) Energy generated (kWh in millions)
Public utility undertakings:
(a) State-owned 4500 13500 200
(b) Company-owned 4300 5300 23
Self-generating industrial esta- 3200 45
blishments 2200
_________ __________ ___________
TOTAL 11,000 22,000 100
41. The addition of 2.9 million kW in power plant capacity, proposed for the public sector, will include 2.1 million kW of hydroelectric plant and 800,000 kW of thermal plant, the latter also including a small amount of diesel capacity. Forty four hydro and steam power generating schemes (both new and extension to existing stations) are proposed to be undertaken during the second plan, a list of which is given in Statement V in the Annexure. Of these, 25 are hydroelectric stations and 19 are thermal stations. Most of the new power schemes will yield benefits within the five year period. A number of schemes which require further investigation will, however, be started in the second half of the plan, and financial provision for them has been made on this basis. In considering the details of the programmes of States, care has been taken to ensure that benefits from most of the projects will be available during the second plan period and will keep pace with the demand for power in the areas to be served. The programme of the private sector provides for important plant additions in Calcutta, Ahmedabad and in the Tata power system as also additions in small sizes in a number of systems in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Saurashtra all of which total to about 300,000 kW in the second plan period. A list of important plant additions by the companies in the electricity supply industry is also given in Statement V in the Annexure.
42. Financial outlay-A number of projects commenced in the first plan are at present in different stages of construction. A total outlay of Rs. 160 crores is required for these schemes during the second plan. An additional outlay of Rs. 245 crores is proposed for new schemes to be completed during the second plan and Rs. 22 crores for schemes, the benefits from which will be derived in the third plan. The outlay and benefits from the continuing and new schemes are shown below:-
Outlay Benefits Benefits
in the during the during the
second second third
plan plan plan
Rs. crores (kW in million)
Schemes carried over from the
first to the second plan. 160 1.7
New schemes which yield
benefits during second
plan 245 1.2
New schemes which will yield
benefits during the third
plan 22 0.9
__________ ________ _________
TOTAL 427 2.9 0.9