Himachal seeks gas based power plant
New Delhi: Chief Minister Himachal Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal has requested the Centre to set up 500 mega watt Gas Based Power Plant for meeting the consumptive needs of the State. He was speaking the Power Ministers Conference in New Delhi today. He said that State Hydel Power generation dips drastically from October to March as a result of less discharge of water as a result of which State has to face power cuts. He told that gap between demand and supply was likely to touch 800 mega watt by the year 2012 and will also affect industrialization of the State and requested the Union Govt. to consider the setting up of Gas Plant.
Chief Minister also requested the Union Govt. to increase 100 megawatt allocation to 400 megawatt from Ultra Mega Power Projects to the State, to meet the energy needs and also requested the Centre to fix 15% share under un-allocated quota available at disposal of Union Govt. to the State from October to April each year as matter of policy to provide timely and adequate allocations to the State, so as to ensure regular electricity supply to the consumers in the State. He also urged for providing grants and soft loans to the hill States for development of Hydro Electric Projects and establishment of transmission network, which requires huge financial investments. He requested the Centre to clear the State Govt. proposal of levying of generation tax on hydro electric projects and asked for timely and favourable action in this regard.
Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that state has harnessed 6500 megawatt electricity out of total identified potential of 23000 megawatt and added that around 10,000 megawatt capacity will be harnessed by the end of the 11th Plan, which will go a long way in meeting the growing energy needs of the State. He announced that 15000 mega watt hydro electric capacity will be generated in the State by the end of 12th Plan. He told that 3500 megawatt capacity will be added in the remaining period of 11th Plan, which include 1000 megawatt Karchham-Wangtu, 800 mega watt Kol Dam, 800 megawatt Parbati two, 231 mega watt Chamera three, 192 megawatt Allian Duhangan, 100 mega watt Malana two, 100 mega watt Shorang, 100 mega watt Uhal and 70 mega watt Budhil Project.
Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal requested the Centre to empower the States to give techno economic clearance to projects up to Rs. 2500 crore, which have not been included in National Electricity Plan to reduce time taken in pre-implementation clearances and added that at present States have been delegated powers for according to techno economic clearances of projects upto 500 crores only.
Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal asked the Centre to include the Himachal under revised policy, which proposes to lower the criteria for giving mega project status to hydro electric projects situated in north eastern States, Sikkim and Jammu and Kashmir. He told that 50% targets under Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyut Yojna would be completed by march 2010 and hundred percent targets would be achieved by the end of the next year.
He requested the centre to revise the population criteria of 10,000 or above to 5000 for hilly towns under restructured APDRP and also told that many of State towns having 5000 populations in 2001 year have reached population level of more than 10000 due to rapid industrialization of the state .he told that State has achieved the household coverage ratio to 95% which is highest in the country and Aggregate Technical and Commercial losses have been recorded at 15.1% which is lowest in the Country. He said that 100% census villages have been electrified and 100% consumer metering, billing and collection has been achieved in the state. He told that electricity consumers enjoy one of the lowest tariffs in the Country and no category of consumers is given free electricity in the State. He requested the Centre to provide sufficient funds to the State under soft loans and grants to meet huge investments needs for development of hydro power and establishment of transmission net work in the State.
