Shimla: Intent upon giving a thrust to the stalled hydropower development program in the state, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur held a high powered meeting with top executives of SJVNL Ltd, by far the largest hydropower company operating in Himachal Pradesh.
“Detailed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for executing the Luhri Stage – I (210 MW), Luhri Stage II (172 MW), Sunni Dam (382 (MW), Jangi Thopan (780 MW) and Dhaula Sidh (66 MW) projects would be signed in August,” said Jai Ram after the meeting.
These project have the potential of making an investment of Rs 15,000 crore in the state and a potential of providing employment to about 8000 people, he added.
Chenab River Valley Projects To Be Re-allotted
On the occasion, the chief minister did inform that the 5 projects on the Chenab River that had been allocated to private sector developers earlier had been cancelled.
“The government would consider the viability of these projects before allocating these projects to other developers. Suitable concessions to the investors would also be considered,” he said.
“A detailed implementation agreement for the projects allocated is to be signed with the state government,” said Nand Lal Sharma, CMD of SJVNL, who led the executive team from the power producing company at the meeting with the chief minister.
SJVNL, a company run in the joint sector with Himachal Pradesh and the Union Government, is already operating two hydropower plants on Sutlej River in the state.
With the union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March reclassifying large hydropower as renewable energy projects, attention is once again shifting to big hydro projects. The reclassification gives the sector several concessions and incentives for attracting investors.
The push for hydropower generation would help to meet peak load needs as well as help to attain grid stability.
