Policy dispute with SJVN, says Vidya Stokes

Shimla, Oct 4 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Power Minister Vidya Stokes today said the 750 MW Luri hydel project was not assigned to the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) following its inability to fulfill the 70 per cent employment condition.

''Following a policy dispute with the SJVNL on employing 70 per cent Himachali people at levels, the state government decided not to award the project to it,'' she told reporters after inaugurating a phone-in knowledge based programme for the farming and rural community of the state here.

Ms Stokes said the company had to follow the policy decided by the state government and there could never be two set of rules one for them and another for the rest.

The government's decision to set up police posts at all places where hydel projects were coming up and regarding appointment of labour officers there was an effort to ensure that the 70 per cent employment policy was adhered to by all the companies, she said.

Asserting that strict action would be taken against those companies that do not adhere to the state government's policy, she said this was necessary to provide employment to the youth of the state.

The Power Minister said that the National Thermal Power Corporation (NHPC) has approached the Supreme Court against the state government's decision for releasing 15 per cent water downstream.

The state's decision was based on sound reasoning that 15 per cent release of water downstream was necessary to protest aquatic life and water streams in the lower areas of the state, she said.

Besides, the state's ecology would be affected if adequate water was not released from the hydel projects being set up on the rivers of the state, she added.

UNI AS HS CS VV2004