Bhilwara Group’s Second Himachal Hydro Project To Be Commissioned By June 2009

Shimla: Success of the 86 MW Malana power project has made the Rajasthan based textile group LNJ Bhilwara make a major foray into the power sector, setting ambitious targets of being able to achieve about 3000 MW of generation capacity by 2015.

LNJ Bhilwara group spokesman Ravjit Chaudhuri told My Himachal News that after Malana, the 192 MW Allain Duhangan hydro electric projects was the company’s second one expected to begin generation by June 2009.

Brought under the umbrella of Bhilwara Energy, the company has also bagged two other major projects in the state, which include the 140 MW Chango-Yangtang projects in the geographically challenged terrain of upper Kinnaur and the 200 MW Bara Bangal project.

Besides these work on preparing detailed projects reports for three projects in Arunachal Pradesh and two in Nepal, said Chaudhuri. The Arunachal projects have a combined generation potential of 290 MW that involve an estimated construction cost at about Rs 1700 crore.

He said that detailed surveys for the execution of the Chango-Yangtang and the Bara Bangal was undertaken and work would begin once all clearances are obtained, he said.

Chaudhari maintained that work on the Allian Duhangan project in Kullu district was going to schedule and it was likely to begin trail operations by March 2009 and would in all probability be commissioned by June 2009.

The Allian Duhangan project in which the World Bank thorough International Finance Corporation has invested $ 45 million, ran into controversy with environmentalist and suffered delays as courts ordered stalling of works till damages were assessed and compensated for.

The spokesman said that the matter has been settled and the project would be commissioned according to schedule laid out.

Ravinder Makhaik

As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads the team of media professionals at Hill Post.

In a career spanning over two decades through all formats of journalism in Electronic, Print and Online Media, he brings with him enough experience to steer this platform. He lives in Shimla.