State govt. signs implementation agreements for energy projects worth Rs. 3,336 crore
The State Government has signed implementation agreements during the current year for 19 hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 278 MW and an estimated investment of approximately Rs. 3,336 crore.
These projects include the 9 MW Soyal Dashal, 6 MW Khauli-II, 9 MW Gramang, 10 MW Umli, 24 MW Bharmour Stage-I, 21 MW Bharmour Stage-II, 22.5 MW Harsar Stage-II, 19 MW Harsar Stage-III, 24 MW Tundah Stage-II, 18 MW Janglik, 15 MW Rupin Stage-II, 17 MW Dunali-I and II, 12 MW Jari, 18 MW Toral Kundli, 15 MW Tundan, 10 MW Kot Dogri, 8 MW Upper Kurmi, 11 MW Kalal Khol and 9.6 MW Melan hydroelectric projects.
The state government has cancelled the allotments of 15 power projects where it was observed that developers had shown little interest in implementing their projects. Now, the efforts are underway to invite international bids for speedy implementation of these projects.
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has congratulated the officers and employees of the energy department for its achievement. He said that the present state government was committed to harnessing the vast hydropower potential of Himachal Pradesh.
He stated that in order to promote the energy sector in the state, the government had amended its power policy and revised royalty rates for hydropower projects up to 25 MW capacity, fixing a uniform royalty rate of 12 percent for a period of 40 years.
The Chief Minister further informed that construction of the 150 MW Tidong Stage-I Hydroelectric Project had been completed. The state government had also signed an MoU with Geo Tropi India Private Limited for the exploration and development of geothermal power projects.
He said that out of the state’s estimated hydropower potential of around 24,000 MW, construction has already been completed on 189 projects with a combined capacity of 12,588 MW. Additionally, 54 projects with a total capacity of 1,528 MW are currently under construction, while 526 projects with a combined capacity of 7,539 MW are at various stages of approval.
The Chief Minister said that the state government was giving top priority to harnessing the state’s power potential in order to strengthen the state’s economy. He emphasized that the government was signing MoUs for these projects only after ensuring that the interests of the state are fully protected.
