The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to set a new policy and guidelines soon for grants to be given by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for the development and construction of small hydro power projects in the state of Uttarakhand.
New Delhi/Dehradun 11th July, 2021 (Sub.Bureau)
Press Note-02(07/42)
Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami paid a courtesy call on Union Minister of Energy and New & Renewable Energy Shri RK Singh, in New Delhi. The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to set a new policy and guidelines soon for grants to be given by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for the development and construction of small hydro power projects in the state of Uttarakhand. The Chief Minister said that work is going on on several small hydro power projects under the state of Uttarakhand, while some new projects are to be started. Central financial assistance is required to reduce the tariff of these projects.
The Chief Minister said that under the Solar Street Light Scheme by the Government of India, for providing street lighting facilities in rural areas of Uttarakhand, a total of 19665 number of solar street lights had been approved at 90 percent center share. The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to extend the stipulated time period for installation of approved solar street lights in rural areas of Uttarakhand state and direct the concerned agency to complete the remaining works at the earliest.
While discussing the Kishau project, the Chief Minister said that the electricity component cost and water component cost of the project should be fixed at 13.3 percent and 86.7 percent respectively in future relative to the total revised cost of the project. Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh may be permitted to use their watersheds without any hindrance limit and to sell the unutilized waters (if any) of their watersheds to any state. The water share allotted by the Upper Yamuna River Board to the state of Uttarakhand in the past should not be less than 3.814 percent. The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to take necessary action regarding the signing of the Inter-State MoU with the above amendments to speed up the implementation of the Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project.
The Chief Minister, while discussing the Lakhwar multipurpose project situated on the Yamuna river in Dehradun district, said that all the necessary approvals have been received for the construction of the project and for financial assistance, as soon as the approval and central grant is received from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, Government of India, this national importance will be recognized. The construction work of the project can be started. The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to take necessary action on priority for granting early financial approval of Lakhwar Multipurpose Project from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, Government of India.
Expressing gratitude for undergrounding the overhead power lines of Kumbh area of Haridwar, the Chief Minister urged the Union Minister to make the overhead power lines of Haldwani underground under a scheme funded by the Government of India.
The Chief Minister said that it has been proposed to install smart meters and pre-paid meters in OPEX mode under Revamped Reforms-Linked Results-Based Distribution Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Power, Government of India. Only 15 percent of the Gross Budgetary Support has been provided by the Central Government under “Smart Meter and Pre-Paid Meter”, due to which the State Government Distribution Company has to bear the financial burden in implementing this policy. You may have to face practical difficulties. The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to increase the rate of Gross Budgetary Support from 15 percent to 50 percent for special category states.
Additional Chief Secretary Shri Anand Bardhan, Secretary Shri Shailesh Bagoli were also present on the occasion.
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