Encyclopaedia of Eminent Thinkers (The Political Thought of Mahadev Govind Ranade) e-bog

Energy occupies a prime position in India's planned economic growth. This sector has attracted 28.30% of Plan allocations-power sector attracting about 18%. India started with a narrow base in 1947, at the time of independence, and had to promote growth of energy sector to support social and economic development. Since immediate term benefits were not assured, the government decided to develop energy as a core sector activity under its own control. Over the period of time the approach has become a liability on the government as financial performance of utilities has been controlled by social demands. State electricity Boards are subsidising energy supply to certain sectors whereas that should be a part of concerned ministries. This administered poor financial performance has also made their growth proposals un-bankable. The government has tried to attract foreign and private participation over the last five years but with little success. Procedures for implementation of privatisation is idenfied as the major bottleneck Fuel supply from indigenous primary fossil sources is also becoming an issue of concern. The short term and medium term scenarios of energy use in India will be influenced by fossil sources; the long term scenario calls for a shift towards nuclear and biomass energy. A combination of two likely to meet the environmental parameters and fuel India's growth in the energy sector through indigenous resources. Such a shift to Bio-Nuc, (as World Energy Council term it) can be achieved only by establishing long term energy policy in that direction and implementing the same. The Book is a collection of Papers by the author on different aspects of energy production and supply and presents an indepth analysis of the energy scene in India, and the future direction of its growth.