Poor rains: Hydel-power generation down 15%

India's hydro-electric power generation has declined 15 per cent in the past three months because of erratic monsoons, Minister of State for Power Bharatsinh Solanki said on Tuesday.

"It (hydro-electric generation) has gone down. . . in the northern part of the country. We lost almost 15 per cent (of the total hydro-electric installed capacity) from June to August," Solanki told reporters in Mumbai.

"But things are improving because of the rain(fall) received in the past few days," the minister said.

At present, India has an installed power generation capacity of over 1,51,000 MW, according to the data available on the ministry's website. Of this, hydel-power accounts for over 36,916 MW or nearly 25 per cent.

India has received 24 per cent less rains this year leading to a drought and a drought-like situation in 278 districts in 11 states, according to the CCEA.

State-run hydel-power generator NHPC Ltd has lost 200 million units of power since April due to poor rainfall.

Solanki said the power sector needed massive investments to the tune of Rs 5 lakh crore (Rs 5 trillion).

He said the government was considering various options to attract capital from domestic as well foreign entities.

"We will have to go for opening up in many areas. If we want to go for huge generation, we will have to bring in foreign investment," he said.