PROMPT PORTAL

TAG: GS 2: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: The Union Minister of Power and Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, today launched Portal for Online monitoring of Projects – Thermal (PROMPT) in New Delhi.

EXPLANATION:

• Electricity is the key driver for the ongoing economic activities in the country.
• Accordingly, the demand for power is also increasing therefore completion of ongoing schemes and thermal projects in timebound manner is extremely critical.
• The launch of the portal PROMPT will enable transparent, coordinated, and effective working of the power sector in the country.
• The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has been actively monitoring the progress of under-construction power projects through regular site visits, interactions with developers, and periodic review meetings with stakeholders.
• These efforts are aimed at identifying and resolving critical issues to ensure timely commissioning of power projects.

PROMPT portal

• The online thermal project monitoring portal is developed taking a step further in monitoring of these thermal power projects and to facilitate the power project developers towards a digital process of monitoring.
• National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has helped in developing this portal.
• The newly launched PROMPT portal is designed to facilitate real-time tracking and analysis of thermal power projects.
• This online platform enables project managers and stakeholders to make informed decisions swiftly, ensuring that potential delays and issues are identified early and addressed promptly.
• Key Features and Advantages of PROMPT:
  • Real-Time Tracking and Analysis: The portal provides a centralized platform for monitoring all aspects of project execution, enabling swift identification and resolution of potential issues.
  • Transparency and Accountability: By digitizing the monitoring process, the portal ensures greater transparency in project management, leading to timely resolution of issues, reduction in time and cost overruns, and enhanced project execution efficiency.
  • Resource Optimization: The portal supports predictable resource availability, aiding in meeting the country’s electricity demand at a reasonable price, ultimately benefiting consumers.
• To familiarize stakeholders with the portal’s functionality, hands-on training sessions have been conducted for all project developers.
• As a result, most developers have already begun entering data into the portal on a monthly basis, further enhancing the monitoring process.

Central Electricity Authority (CEA)

• The Central Electricity Authority of India (CEA) advises the government on policy matters and formulates plans for the development of electricity systems.
• It is a statutory organisation constituted under section 3(1) of Electricity Supply Act 1948, which has been superseded by section 70(1) of the Electricity Act 2003.
• Officers from the Central Power Engineering Services Cadre, recruited through Engineering Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, are posted to the Central Electricity Authority of India.
• Under the Electricity Act 2003, CEA prescribes the standards on matters such as construction of electrical plants, electric lines and connectivity to the grid, installation and operation of meters and safety and grid standards.
• The CEA is also responsible for concurrence of hydro power development schemes of central, state and private sectors taking into consideration the factors which will result in efficient development of the river and its tributaries for power generation, consistent with the requirement of drinking water, irrigation, navigation and flood control.

SOURCE: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2047048