Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar reached Uttarakhand for the first time, gave a big assurance regarding the power project
Union Energy and Urban Development Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is on a tour of Uttarakhand. Today, Manohar Lal Khattar held a review meeting of all the schemes related to energy and urban development of the state in the presence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. In the high-level review meeting held at the Chief Minister’s residence, senior officials of Energy and Urban Development of Government of India as well as officials of all departments of the state including the Chief Secretary were present.
During the meeting, CM Dhami informed the Union Energy Minister about the energy needs of the state. CM Dhami said that the Expert Committee on Alaknanda and Bhagirathi and their tributary rivers of 2123 MW capacity has recommended 21 hydropower projects. In which no ban has been imposed by any institution on 11 projects of 771 MW. Recommendation has been received from Expert Committee-2 for the construction of 10 hydropower projects of total capacity of 1352 MW. These projects need approval along with taking positive decisions to get off the ground.
The CM said that only 40 percent of the hydropower generation capacity is being used in the state. Out of the total 45 identified hydropower projects in the state, 24 projects have been abandoned keeping in mind the environment. Approval has been given by the committee for 21 projects. During the meeting itself, the Union Energy Minister assured CM Dhami that a meeting will be held in this regard soon with the officials of the Ministry of Energy and Jal Shakti in the presence of the Chief Minister in Delhi.
The CM talked about giving central financial assistance to the state for the construction of hydropower projects, the draft issued by the Ministry of Power, Government of India for the shortage of electricity in the state and the rapid development of the remaining power capacity, under the Hydroelectric Policy, Uttarakhand state should also be given central financial assistance for the construction of hydropower projects like the North Eastern states.
To meet the supply of current and long-term base load power requirements of the state, immediate allocation of coal linkage for the construction of a coal based power project of 1320 MW capacity will also be in the interest of the state. Also, an additional allocation of 600 MW should be made from coal based projects to meet the base load power requirements of the state. The CM also requested for reimbursement of actual expenditure incurred in the reconstruction of power structures instead of the standards set for compensation for power structures damaged by natural disaster in the state.
The Union Minister directed in the meeting that proposals related to urban development should be sent to the Central Government along with proposals related to the energy needs of the state and improvement in this sector. He also expressed confidence of taking action on all issues related to the state’s interest as soon as possible.
