Centre for coal-based power projects in Uttarakhand

Centre has asked the Uttarakhand government to provide free of cost land for setting up coal-based power plants in the hill state.

A proposal to this effect was forwarded by Union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde during his meeting with chief minister B C Khanduri yesterday at New Delhi where the two leaders discussed issues related to the energy sector in the hill state.

Shinde suggested that if Uttarakhand is willing to provide land for power project free of cost, then his ministry, through NTPC, could start coal-based power plant in the hill state, an official statement said.

Of the total generated power from this plant, 50 per will be granted to Uttarakhand, the statement added.

Besides, Shinde also assured Khanduri to give early techno-economic clearances to four major hydel projects. The four projects are —Lakhwar (capacity- 300 Mw), Bowala Nandprayag (capacity- 300Mw) and Kishau (capacity- 660Mw) which would be developed by the state-owned UJVN Ltd.

“The chief minister went to meet the Union power minister to express his gratitude to the central government for revising and raising the allocation of unallocated power of central generating station to Uttarakhand during the winter season, an official statement said after the meeting.

“This revision of allocation of power has, in totality, increased over-the-years accumulated power (given to Uttarakhand) to approximately 100 Mw,” it said adding the Centre allocates the unallocated power of central generating station to various states during the onset of winter season.

After exchanging pleasantries, Shinde assured Gen Khanduri that both the power ministry and ministry of water resources are working in tandem and examining the four projects and the required clearance on these projects will be given soon. Shinde also assured Khanduri of extending all sorts of assistance in harnessing potential of 120 Mw Vyasi power project and other hydropower projects in the state.

Vyasi had already got the techno-economic clearance.

Khanduri also raised the issue of irrigation power projects to point out anomalies in their tariffs. Shinde expressed hope that his ministry would work out modalities for bringing down the tariff on such projects.