HP to develop thermal power projects, says CM

Shimla, Oct 26 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said his government will spend a sum of Rs 3,000 crore for developing a thermal power project in the state.

''The thermal power project will be developed in the coal sufficient belt and will generate additional income for the state,'' he told reporters here.

Referring to the state government's dispute with the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL) over the appointment of another Director from the state on its board, Mr Singh said the issue has to be sorted before any other hydel project could be awarded to the SJVNL.

He said the only way to resolve the issue was to appoint a state official company's Director Personnel, a post earlier held by Tarun Kapoor who had been named Shimla Deputy Commissioner.

The Chief Minister and state Power Minister Vidya Stokes are on record having said that the 900 MW Luhri hydel project would not be handed over to the SJVNL and the project would be executed by the Himachal Power Corporation (HPC).

Unless the issue was resolved, the project would be executed by HPC with state government having 60 and 40 per cent equity participation, he said.

Asserting that the state government had the means and the expertise to execute the project. There is no dearth, he added.

UNI AS DP YA BD1935