states/ DISCOMs in the public domain as a measure of transparency.
Capacity Addition Programme and Achievement during 2017-18
Capacity Addition target of 13171.15 MW including 500 MW of nuclear has been fixed for
the year 2017-18. Against this target, a capacity of 4,765 MW has been added till December
2017.
Development of National Grid
National power grid in the country is being developed in a phased manner. All five regional
grids, namely northern region, western region, eastern region, north-eastern region and southern
region have been inter-connected in synchronous mode and total transfer capacity of inter-
regional links in June, 2017 is about 75,050 MW.
The updated version of Energy Conservation Building code (ECBC) was launched 2017.
The scope of ECBC 2017 includes norms and standards for building design, including norms and
standards for building design, including the envelope, lighting, heating, air-conditioning and
electrical systems. It sets minimum energy standard for new commercial building having
connected load of 100 kw and above or contract demand of 120kw and above.
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
In order to provide clean cooking fuel to poor households especially in rural areas, the
Government had launched Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana to provide deposit free LPG
connections to 8 crore women belonging to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) households. The
primary objective is to provide access to clean cooking fuel LPG to BPL households thereby
protecting their health by reducing the serious health hazards associated with use of conventional
cooking fuels such as firewood, coal, cowdung, etc., which causes severe indoor household air
pollution. Use of LPG as a cooking fuel frees women from drudgery of collecting fire wood,
reduce time spent on cooking and prevent deforestation. So far, more than 5.55 crore BPL
families have been benefited by this Scheme.
The eligible families are identified through Socio-Economic Caste Census list and in case,
name is not found in SECC list , from seven categories i.e., beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri
Awas Yojana (PMAY-Gramin), beneficiaries of Antyodaya Anna Yojana, SC/ST households,
most backward classes, forest dwellers, tea/ex-tea garden tribes and residents of islands/ river
islands subject to fulfilling other terms and conditions of the Scheme.
PAHAL
Government, as a measure of Good Governance introduced well targeted systems of subsidy
delivery to LPG consumers through PAHAL. This initiative was aimed at rationalizing subsidies
based on approach to cut subsidy leakages, but not subsidies per se. Applicable subsidy is
directly transferred into the bank account of the beneficiaries. So far, more than 22.40 crore LPG
consumers have joined the Scheme. PAHAL has entered into Guinness book of World Record
being largest Direct Benefit Transfer scheme, so far, more than ₹ 83,653 crore have been
transferred into the bank account of consumers.
Petroleum and Natural Gas