The Hindu : New Delhi News : Himachal signs MoUs worth 800 MWs

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Himachal signs MoUs worth 800 MWs

Staff Correspondent

SHIMLA: The State government here has signed 259 memorandums of understanding worth 829.35 MWs with small but independent power producers, said State chief secretary Asha Swaroop on Saturday in a conference on ‘Hydro-Power Policy’ conducted by the Himachal Energy Development Agency, popularly called ‘Himurja.’

The State has sufficient hydro-power to feed the power deficient northern grid and other grids in the country, she said.

She said 2008 could be called the centennial year of Himachal Pradesh Hydro power, as Bhuri Singh Power House in Chamba district and Chaba in Shimla district were commissioned in 1908 in the 20th century and it was a matter of great pride that these power stations were still in operation.

She said over next five years, the government aims to ensure that installed capacity reaches 12000 MW through medium and large projects and another 500 MW would be realised through small projects by the end of 2012.

Total potential

Himachal has a potential of 21,000 MW, out of which nearly 2,000 MW has been assessed in the category of small hydel projects with a capacity up to 25 MW.

Total potential of 6255 MW has been harnessed through larger projects and 51.15 MW capacities have been realised through small hydro projects of up to 5 MW capacities, the chief secretary added.

Ms. Swaroop said being environment- friendly, small hydro-electric project involving low running costs were becoming increasingly competitive with thermal, diesel or gas-based generation power projects.

Secondary benefits

She said these projects were bringing a number of secondary benefits to the areasuch as opening up of hinterland, economic growth of small villages and towns, new business opportunities, availability of educational, health and transport services as well as availability of employment to the local population.

5 % decline

Meanwhile, due to severe cold in the catchment areas in higher reaches, a decline of 5 per cent has been reported in the overall power generation in the State.

A spokesman of SJVN said the water-level in many snow-fed rivers had come down in past one week.

Production in Nathpa Jhakri project has come down to 24 million units from the regular 36 million units of electricity, said the spokesman.

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