Â
Shimla:Â Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam, the public sector hydropower generating company on Friday declared a dividend of Rs 244 crore, which is the highest ever the company since its 1500 MW Natpha Jhakri plant went into operation in 2003.
HK Sharma, Chairman-cum-Managing Director handed union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde a cheque of Rs 183 crore as 75 percent shareholder in the joint venture public sector undertaking in which the Himachal Pradesh holds the balance shares.
On the occasion Sharma said that during the year 2007-08 SJVNL achieved the highest net profit of Rs.764.51 crore against Rs.732.71 crore achieved last year. Â During the year 2007-08, the country’s largest 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Power Station being operated by SJVN Ltd., had generated 6449 MU of electricity as against 6014 MU during the previous year.
The Company also has the distinction of having been awarded the ‘Mini Ratna & Schedule ‘A’  status  by the Govt. of India for its exemplary performance of 4 years after coming into full commercial generation in the year 2004.
After the commissioning of the largest underground 1500 MW Â Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Electric Power Station, the Corporation has expanded its base from a single project to a Multi Project and thereafter from a single state to multi-state operations, said Sharma.
The Corporation is executing Rampur Hydro Electric Project (412 MW) in Himachal Pradesh, and  Devsari Hydro Electric Project (252 MW), Jakhol Sankri Hydro Electric Project (45 MW), Naitwar Mori Hydro Electric Project (56 MW) in Uttarakhand State.  Further, SJVN has also been allocated Luhri Hydro Electric Project (775 MW),  Khab Hydro Electric Project (1020 MW) and Dhaulasidh Hydro electric Project (40 MW) for preparation of Detailed Project Report and execution thereafter.
The Company’s  412 MW Rampur Hydro Electric Project down stream of the Nathpa Jhakri Project is scheduled for commissioning by the year 2012.
In its quest for going global, SJVN emerged as the first CPSU to bag a Hydro Power Project out side India in Nepal on open competition basis. Â MoU for this 402 MW Arun III Â Project was signed with Govt. of Nepal on 02.03.2008. Â The MoU provides for construction on BOOT basis of Arun-III HEP within Seven & a half years from the date of signing of MoU including two & a half years for detailed survey & investigation and its subsequent operation for thirty years from the date of issue of generation license. Â The project will generate 2891 MU per year out of which 21.9% free power shall be given to Govt. of Nepal.
SJVN has also been allocated two hydro electric project in Bhutan for preparation of DPR (Detailed Project Reports) by the Ministry of Power. Â These are 486 MW Kholongchu HE Project and 900 MW Wangchu HE Project. Â The DPR of these projects are scheduled to be completed by end 2009 and end 2010 respectively.
The Company plans to invest Rs.20,000 crore in its forthcoming projects during the next five year plan  to add more than 2500 MW of Power.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
