Union Minister Launches JAL VIDYUT DPR, CEA Compendium

Union Minister Manohar Lal unveils JAL VIDYUT DPR portal and CEA regulations compendium, boosting transparency, efficiency, and coordination in India’s hydropower and electricity sector.

August 21, 2024. By EI News Network

In a significant move towards enhancing the efficiency and transparency of India’s power sector, Union Minister of Power and Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, launched the Online Portal for Monitoring Survey and Investigation Activities of Hydro Electric Projects and Pumped Storage Projects (JAL VIDYUT DPR) and unveiled a comprehensive compendium of regulations by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) under the Electricity Act, 2003. The event, held in New Delhi, marks a critical step in strengthening the nation’s infrastructure for hydropower and ensuring a sustainable, reliable electricity sector.

The JAL VIDYUT DPR portal, developed by the CEA, serves as a centralised digital platform designed to monitor the survey and investigation activities related to Hydro Electric Projects and Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs). During the launch, MInister stressed the importance of digital tools in modernising the power sector, stating, "The launch of the three online portals today—DRIPS, PROMPT, and JAL VIDYUT DPR—will enable transparent, coordinated, and effective working of the power sector in the country. This is essential as we work towards achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047."

The portal offers real-time tracking and a bird’s-eye view of project development statuses, facilitating seamless communication between developers and appraising agencies such as the Central Water Commission (CWC), Geological Survey of India (GSI), Central Soil and Materials Research Station (CSMRS), and the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MOEF&CC). It aims to expedite the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for Hydro and PSP projects, which are vital for providing balancing power and greater inertia to the grid amidst the ongoing energy transition.

Currently, 11 Hydro Electric projects with a combined capacity of 9 GW and 39 Pumped Storage Projects with a capacity of 57 GW are under survey and investigation for DPR preparation, highlighting the scale of development that the portal will support.

Alongside the launch of the JAL VIDYUT DPR portal, Minsiter also introduced a compendium of CEA regulations under the Electricity Act, 2003. This compendium consolidates a wide range of regulations crucial for ensuring grid stability, promoting efficient resource use, maintaining safety standards, and facilitating the integration of renewable energy into the national grid.

"The release of this compendium of CEA regulations is a crucial step towards ensuring transparency in the power sector in India. The regulations encapsulated in this compendium will bring uniformity of rules and will provide a centralized and easily accessible source of information at one place for ease of compliance by the power sector stakeholders," said Manohar Lal at the event.

The compendium covers diverse aspects, including grid standards, safety measures for electric supply, technical standards for grid connectivity, flexible operation of coal-based thermal power plants, and the installation and operation of meters. It also addresses safety requirements for the construction, operation, and maintenance of electrical plants and lines, reflecting the evolving needs of India’s power sector.

By providing a consolidated reference, the compendium is set to be an invaluable resource for policymakers, developers, and operators, ensuring adherence to the highest standards in electricity generation, transmission, and distribution.

Tags:

Policies & Regulations

Union Minister of Power and Minister for Housing

Manohar Lal

Hydroelectric projects

Pumped storage projects in India

Centralised digital platform

grid stabilization