Allotment of hydro power projects put under scanner

The state energy department has come under the scanner for alleged illegal allotment of small hydro-electric projects.

The allegation has been highlighted by city-based consultancy firm Project Development Consultants.

The firm has stated that in case of six hydro power projects- Indravati Canal power house-I (2 MW), Indravati Canal power house-II, Salandi dam toe power house (9 MW), Cheligarh small hydro project (17 MW), Raniturga power house (3 MW) and Hatipathar power house (9 MW), the allotment was cancelled and alloted again to firms without advertisement.

Project Development Consultants has alleged that this is a definite violation of government orders and has urged the energy department to take suitable action.

“As per the government policy of June 23, 2003, allotment of any project if cancelled, shall be advised for other prospective entrepreneurs. The policy states the engineer-in-chief-EIC (electricity) will advertise in the month of January every year all the feasible projects available including the left out projects of the previous year and offers received from interested developers will be considered on a quarterly basis. But in case of these six projects, there has been no advertisement from the EIC and this is a violation of the government order,” K C Mohapatra, chairman of Project Development Consultants stated in his letter to state energy secretary G Mathivathanan.

On receipt of the letter, the energy department has asked the EIC (electricity) to immediately furnish a factual report on the matter.

It may be noted that the fate of proposed hydel power projects in the state hangs in the balance with some of the projects found to be interfering with big projects in the pipeline while for a few others, unavailability of sufficient water has posed a hurdle.

The water resources department may not clear some of the proposed hydel projects that either interfere with mega hydro projects or do not have adequate water.

The 15 MW Dumajhori small hydro-electric project (SHEP) planned by Secunderabad-based Sarvani Energy Ltd in Koraput district is located only four km from the Kolab river and may interfere with the flood water evaluations of Middle Kolab project during high flood.

Similarly, the 10 MW Kharagpur SHEP, also planned in Koraput district, is coming within the reservoir area of Middle Kolab project. This project is to be developed b city-based Sidheswari Power Generation Pvt Ltd.

The 25 MW Saheed Lakshman Nayak SHEP to be developed by Hyderabad-based Sileru Power Generation Ltd in Koraput district is under a cloud of uncertainty as the project does not have sufficient water for its running and there is likelihood of submergence of Kolab project.