Himachal For No Projects To BBMB – Dhumal

By: Ravinder Makhaik

Shimla: Chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal categorically stated that Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) would not be allotted any project in Himachal Pradesh as the organization had cheated the state.

Responding to a question at a media conference after signing of agreements between the state and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL), a public sector undertaking, for execution of two power projects, the chief minister said that unless the state is compensated for its due share in the multipurpose projects, no proposal from BBMB would be considered.

Speaking about a $ 800 million loan from Asian Development Bank for the states power sector, he said that it would devolve to the state as 10 percent loan from the center and 90 percent as grant. The amount would be used by Himachal Pradesh Power Development Corporation for constructing 7 power projects, he said.

To give a thrust to the power sector, the government had set up the energy directorate, opened a transmission corporation for evacuating power, altered the project allotment police so as to get long term benefits for the state  and for timely clearances had set up a single window clearance system for hydropower projects like that for industry, said Dhumal.

Power projects with 2 MW generation potential have been marked for state residents, preference to Himachali’s would be given in handing out 5 MW projects and the memorandum of understanding routed for handing out projects with generation potential upto 100 MW had been done away with and they would now be given on global competitive bidding, he said.

About implementation of Atal Bijli Bachat Yojna scheme, he said that no extension had been given for meeting the December 25 deadline for handing out 4 compact fluorescent light bulbs to every household in the state.

Ruling out any reorganization of districts for now, Dhumal in response to a question said that rationalization of districts was a requirement and after the delimitation of assembly constituencies had come into affect, an exercise to have reorganized tehsils and blocks in a given constituency was being undertaken.