IBEX NEWS,shimla.
In a review meeting of the Power Department here today, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed to expedite the FCA and FRA cases in various hydro power projects. He said that hydro power projects of 11000 MW power capacity stalled at various stages due to clearance issues. He directed to constitute a body consisting of Forest and Energy departments to streamline FCA and FRA process. In addition, the Deputy Commissioners and DFOs would also identify the land in their respective districts for compulsory afforestation, he added.
It was of utmost importance to harness hydropower to make Himachal a self-sufficient State and concerned departments must ensure time bound completion of the hydro power projects in order to reap benefits for the people of the State, said the Chief Minister. He directed to complete 800 MW Parvati and 100 MW Uhal stage-III Hydro Electric Projects by 2024.
The present State Government is taking decisions keeping in view the interest of the people and it has raised the issue of enhancing royalty in the power projects, said Sh. Sukhu and added that during his upcoming meeting with the Union Power Minister, he would take up this issue with him to ensure more revenue to the State. He said that power projects shall give 20 percent, 30 percent and 40 percent royalty to the State for first 12 years, next 18 years and remaining 10 years respectively as per the policy of the State Government.
The Chief Minister also affirmed support for the power projects below 5 MW to complete them in a time bound manner.
He also reviewed the Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Start-up Yojna Phase-II under which the State Government would provide financial assistance to the youth for setting up solar power projects of capacity from 100 KW to 500 KW. He said that the State Government would roll down this Start-up Yojna Phase-II shortly aiming to generate self employment avenues to the people of the State. He said that the State Government has already started the first phase of Rs. 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Start-up Yojna under which 50 percent subsidy was being provided for the purchase of e-taxis.
Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister Ram Subhag Singh, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Advisor (Infrastructure) to the Chief Minister Anil Kapil, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Bharat Khera, Director Energy, Harikesh Meena, Principal Private Secretary to Chief Minister, Vivek Bhatia, Director Personnel HPSEBL, Dr. Amit Kumar Sharma, Chief Executive Officer HIMURJA, Subh Karan Singh and other senior Officers were also present in the meeting.