Himachal to generate additional 1,111 MW of hydropower

State-run Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) has plans to commission hydropower projects that would generate 1,111 MW in the next three years, an official said here Thursday.

"We are going to commission projects having aggregate capacity of 1,111 MW by 2017," HPPCL managing director D.K. Sharma said at a function here to mark Independence Day.

He asked all the employees to put in their best efforts to complete the on-going projects on time, without cost over-run.

Germany this month committed a soft loan of 201.50 million euros (Rs.1,630 crore) to the HPPCL for its upcoming 191 MW Thana Plaun hydro electric power project near Mandi town under the "Himalaya Hydropower Programme".

Of this, Rs.1,618 crore will be by way of reduced interest loan, and the balance Rs.12 crore will be by way of grant for carrying out further technical studies of the project, he said.

The Thana Plaun project is expected to be completed by 2019.

The other major hydropower projects the HPPCL has taken up are the 450 MW Shongtong-Karchham hydropower project in Kinnaur district, the 100 MW Sainj in Kullu district, the 111 MW Sawra-Kuddu hydroelectric project in Shimla district and Stage I, II and III of Kashang project (195 MW) in Kinnaur.

The remaining 64 MW will be generated through micro hydro projects.