Himachal to promote private investment in hydro power
By IANSMonday, January 17, 2011
SHIMLA - The Himachal Pradesh government will encourage private investment to tap hydropower potential in the state, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said Monday.
The government has recently allotted 273 mini hydro electric projects out of the total 300 to the private entrepreneurs, Dhumal said while dedicating a 4 megawatt hydro project in the private sector by Ayush Herbs at Boh in the interiors of Kangra district.
He said the government has made a policy to allot a project up to 2 MW exclusively to the state entrepreneurs while according preference to them in projects up to 5 MW.
Himurja, a state-run agency that is allocating and executing mini hydro projects in the state, has so far allotted 485 projects with a capacity of 1,214 MW to the independent power producers. Out of these, 36 projects of 142 MW have started energy production.
The state has constituted single-window clearance and monitoring committees to ensure speedy clearances and effective monitoring of implementation of small hydro projects.
Himachal Pradesh has abundant water resources with a power potential of about 23,000 MW. About 6,480 MW has been harnessed till now by the central and state governments, private players and joint venture companies.
The state now aims to harness 15,000 MW by 2015.
