38
2 Energy Sector Progression in India
Population range
(1941 Census)
Total number
of villages
/towns
Number of villages
/towns with public
electricity supply
Percentage of
towns or villages
with public
electricity supply
to total
Over 100,000
49
49
100.00
50,000 -- 100,000
88
88
100.00
20,000 --- 50,000
277
240
86.64
10,000 -- 20,000
607
260
42.83
5,000 -- 10,000
2367
258
10.86
Below 5,000
559062
2792
0.50
Fig. 2.3 Access to electricity in 1951 (Source Planning Commission 1953)
India was set up at Sivasamudram in Mysore in 1902 followed by Tata hydroelectric
station in Bombay (now Mumbai). Other large cities were brought under the ambit of
electrification in next two decades. As time progressed the electricity generation got
improved and by 1939, the generation capacity had reached one million kilowatts.
Of this nearly 60% was generated by thermal power stations, 8% by oil burning
stations, and 32% by hydroelectric stations. The net electricity-generating capacity
in the country in 1950 was approximately 2.3 million kilowatts, of which 1.7 million
kilowatts was from thermal stations (including oil burning plants) and about 560,000
kilowatts from hydroelectric plants. Most of the thermal power stations were set up
close to coal mines in Bihar and West Bengal and the states of Punjab, UP, Bombay,
and South India were supplied power through hydropower stations.
Commercial energy played a significant role in improving farm production by
supplying electric power for large-scale installation of tube wells and lift irrigation
system. Nearly 35% of the electric energy generated (about 61 million kilowatthour) by the Ganga canal grid in Uttar Pradesh was utilized for pumping of irrigation
supplies through 2,200 tube wells in 1948. Similarly, more than 12,500 consumers
utilized electricity in Madras state for irrigation pumping. Overall, there was a net
increase of 16 million acres (51 million acres to 67 million acres) in the irrigated
area during the first plan period.
Nonetheless, for various reasons including finances, technical knowhow, and
skilled manpower, the commercial generation of electricity was extremely slow. The
average per capita consumption of electricity was only 14 kilowatt-hour per year
3
and in a few states the average consumption was even below one kilowatt per capita
per annum. Only five states had per capita consumption higher than the average
3 In comparison, the per capita consumption in the UK was 1100 kilowatt-hour, 2207 kilowatt-hour
in the USA, and 3905 kilowatt-hour in Canada.
2 Energy Sector Progression in India
Population range
(1941 Census)
Total number
of villages
/towns
Number of villages
/towns with public
electricity supply
Percentage of
towns or villages
with public
electricity supply
to total
Over 100,000
49
49
100.00
50,000 -- 100,000
88
88
100.00
20,000 --- 50,000
277
240
86.64
10,000 -- 20,000
607
260
42.83
5,000 -- 10,000
2367
258
10.86
Below 5,000
559062
2792
0.50
Fig. 2.3 Access to electricity in 1951 (Source Planning Commission 1953)
India was set up at Sivasamudram in Mysore in 1902 followed by Tata hydroelectric
station in Bombay (now Mumbai). Other large cities were brought under the ambit of
electrification in next two decades. As time progressed the electricity generation got
improved and by 1939, the generation capacity had reached one million kilowatts.
Of this nearly 60% was generated by thermal power stations, 8% by oil burning
stations, and 32% by hydroelectric stations. The net electricity-generating capacity
in the country in 1950 was approximately 2.3 million kilowatts, of which 1.7 million
kilowatts was from thermal stations (including oil burning plants) and about 560,000
kilowatts from hydroelectric plants. Most of the thermal power stations were set up
close to coal mines in Bihar and West Bengal and the states of Punjab, UP, Bombay,
and South India were supplied power through hydropower stations.
Commercial energy played a significant role in improving farm production by
supplying electric power for large-scale installation of tube wells and lift irrigation
system. Nearly 35% of the electric energy generated (about 61 million kilowatthour) by the Ganga canal grid in Uttar Pradesh was utilized for pumping of irrigation
supplies through 2,200 tube wells in 1948. Similarly, more than 12,500 consumers
utilized electricity in Madras state for irrigation pumping. Overall, there was a net
increase of 16 million acres (51 million acres to 67 million acres) in the irrigated
area during the first plan period.
Nonetheless, for various reasons including finances, technical knowhow, and
skilled manpower, the commercial generation of electricity was extremely slow. The
average per capita consumption of electricity was only 14 kilowatt-hour per year
3
and in a few states the average consumption was even below one kilowatt per capita
per annum. Only five states had per capita consumption higher than the average
3 In comparison, the per capita consumption in the UK was 1100 kilowatt-hour, 2207 kilowatt-hour
in the USA, and 3905 kilowatt-hour in Canada.