A newly set up state-run power company in Himachal Pradesh has bagged seven major hydel projects in the power-rich hill state.
The state government has quietly allotted seven major projects to the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation (HPPC), said an official in Shimla.
"The 700 MW Luhri project, 402 MW Shongtong Karcham, 100 MW Sainj, 60 MW Dhamwari-Sunda, 45 MW Chirgaon-Majhgaon, 45 MW Harsar and 45 MW Bharmaur have been assigned to HPPC," said the official.
Observers see the Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL) as the biggest loser after this decision. Earlier the 700 MW Luhri project was allotted to SJVNL but has now been snatched away from it.
It was presumed that the SJVNL would get most of these hydel projects in the highly potential Sutlej and Pabbar basins.
In the last over a decade the SJVNL has been able to get only a couple of projects including the already built 1,500 MW Nathpa and the under construction 412 MW Rampur project.
Problems began between the Himachal Pradesh government and SJVNL as a top official of the post of director was recently appointed by the central power ministry even as the state government had urged the centre to appoint a state government official to this position in keeping with the past trend.
{{/usCountry}}Problems began between the Himachal Pradesh government and SJVNL as a top official of the post of director was recently appointed by the central power ministry even as the state government had urged the centre to appoint a state government official to this position in keeping with the past trend.
{{/usCountry}}The centre has a 75 per cent stake in the SJVNL while the rest belongs to the Himachal Pradesh government.