HP makes hydro policy investorfriendly

CABINET MEETING Move aims at speeding up upcoming hydel projects in the state, besides reviving 737 stalled ones

SHIMLA : The Himachal Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday under the chairmanship of chief minister Jai Ram Thakur approved amendments in the existing hydropower policy of the state.

The cabinet approved to defer 12% free power for first 12 years in case of the already allotted projects.

RATES OF ROYALTY TO BE RATIONALISED

It also approved to rationalise the rates of royalty to be applicable for allotment of new projects in view of the provisions of national hydropower policy and provisions in neighbouring states of Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir.

Besides approving power of hydro projects up to 10 MW capacities would be purchased by the state electricity board, the cabinet also approved generic tariff applicable in case of power projects up to 25 MW will be of the date of the commissioning and not of the date of the implementation agreement.

Wheeling charges/open access charges will not be levied for hydroelectric projects (HEPS) up to 25 MW capacity enabling them to sell power on competitive rates outside the state also.

Move aims at reviving 737 stalled projects of around 5,100 MW capacity and gear up their execution. Moreover, it will be possible to allot 300 projects of 2200 MW capacity for which there were no takers despite repeated advertisements under old policy.

These steps will catalyse private investment in hydropower sector at least to the tune of ₹70,000 crore over the next ten years.

NOD TO DHAULASIDH HYDRO PROJECT IN HAMIRPUR DIST

In an another decision, the cabinet also gave its nod to allocate 66 MW Dhaulasidh hydro project on

Beas river in Hamirpur district to SJVN Ltd for implementation on standalone, build, own, operate and maintain (BOOM) basis instead of special purpose vehicle on the pattern of Luhri Stage-i, II and Sunni Dam hydroelectric.

Besides, the cabinet accorded approval to guidelines for implementation of ‘Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kissan’ scheme in the state to reduce cost of cultivation and enhanced farm income by adopting zero budget natural farming. ₹25 crore has been earmarked for the scheme. The scheme will give fillip to organic farming and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers by the farmers in their fields.

APPROVAL TO STATE VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND SCHEME

The cabinet gave its approval to Himachalvictim Compensation Fund (Victim of Crime-compensation)

Scheme, 2018.

It decided to fill up six posts of different categories from wards of freedom fighters in home guards and civil defence department.

The cabinet also gave its nod to upgrade Thural sub-tehsil to tehsil in Kangra district.

It also decided to create a post of assistant professor, physical education in Government Degree College, Jukhala in Bilaspur district and one post of junior office assistant (IT) in state court management committee in HP high court on contract basis.

It also decided to rename Government Senior Secondary School, Baldwara in Mandi district as Shailbala Government Senior Secondary School as a mark of respect to late assistant town and country planner Shail Bala Sharma, who was shot dead by hotelier in Kasauli while discharging her duty.