Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Friday said that clearance for the hydel power projects in the State would be speeded up and made time bound.
Presiding over the meeting of hydro power developers and producers here, the Chief Minister assured the power producers that all their grievances would be redressed and resolved on priority. “It is necessary to resolve petty issues of the small hydel power producers to tap the potential of around 3000 MW as identified by small power producers,” he said. Thakur said that effective measures will be taken to resolve long pending issues so that total potential 27,400 Mega Watt (MW) of identified Hydel potential in the state could be utilized. So far only 10,519 MW has been generated.
The Government was contemplating to make changes in Hydel Power Policy and it would be ensured that in the first stage clearances should be given without delay within one month by all concerned. Construction stage issues pertaining to tariff were to be resolved and in the third stage the post commissioning issues as deliberated upon can be taken up.
The tariff issue can be discussed with regulator and the tariff applicability from the date of commercial commissioning can be explored, he said. The No Objection Certificates (NOC) with regard to Forest Clearance, IPH department and other line departments will be speeded up said the Chief Minister.
MPP and Power Minister, Anil Sharma, said that the government will certainly take immediate measures to resolve the issues as discussed so that the clearances process, the tariff and royalty issues could be solved. He said that efforts would be made to bring changes in Hydro Policy.
President Himalaya Power Producer Association (HPPA), Arun Kumar and President Bona-fide Himachal Power Developers Association (BHPDA) Rajesh Sharma along with Chief Patron, BHPDA R.K.Verma placed genuine problems being faced and pending since last 10 years. They said that presently there were very high royalty rates as compared to other States.