During 1997-98, the ECBs in the central sector including suppliers credit amounted to Rs 1536.78 crore. Compared with this, the budget estimate of Rs 3659.15 crore for the current year is almost 138 per cent more than the last year.

In addition to this, the government has also worked out figures giving the current status of the external aid for the power sector. Power sector continues to be one of the biggest recipient of external aid as can be seen from the fact that the total loan amount committed by the multilateral and bilateral agencies till March, 31, 1998 stands at Rs 38,270 crores.

Out of this, Rs 20,833 crores has already been utilised and Rs 17,437 crores is the undrawn balance. Even last year, out of the total committed external aid of the order of $ 32,431 million, power sector accounted for $ 9898million which is 31 per cent of the total aid by March, 31, 1997.

There are at present around 26 major ongoing projects under execution with external assistance and the expected benefits from these projects is a capacity addition of around 11,000 mw during the Ninth and Tenth plan and a host of major associated transmission networks.

In addition to this, loans have also been availed for system improvement and reforms and restructuring of the power sector in various states. Since 1992, the total loans committed for the power sector by the World Bank, ADB and the OECF stands at $ 1750 million, $ 485 million and 31,9868 million yen respectively.