New Delhi: Indicating slow progress in commissioning of hydro power projects by the private sector, only 3,269 megawatts of capacity has been operationalised so far out of the overall plans for 38,039 MW across the country.

As many as 120 hydro projects with a total capacity of 38,039 MW were conceived by the private sector but unfortunately 3,269 MW could be made operational, a senior official said, quoting data of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

The official further said these 20 operational hydro power projects with generation capacity of 3,269 MW include even small hydro power units of above 3 MW. As per the CEA data, 19 private sector hydro power projects having a total capacity of 4,555 MW are under construction while there are 22 projects with 15,058 MW capacity whose detail project reports (DPR) were approved by the authority.

At present, the CEA is examining DPR of six hydro power projects having capacity of 3,317 MW while reports of 16 such projects of 5,338 MW capacity were returned to private players for resubmission, the official said.

The official also said that private players are still preparing DPR of 31 hydro power projects having a total capacity of 6,502 MW.

Earlier in the week, elaborating on reasons for delay in implementation of hydro power projects, Power Minister Piyush Goyal told the Lok Sabha, "The reasons for delay in respect of hydro projects under construction in private sector mainly include law and order issues, rehabilitation and resettlement, natural calamities, geological surprises, environmental clearances, financial constraints, etc."

The minister said that against identified capacity of 148.70 GW of large hydro power projects (above 25 MW capacity), 38.32 GW capacity is under operation while projects of 12.01 GW capacity are under construction. Construction of 94.89 GW of hydro power generation capacity is yet to be taken up, the minister had said.