Release of 15% water discharge made mandatory for hydel projects

Shimla, Oct 31 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Government has made it mandatory for all hydel projects in the state to release a minimum of 15 per cent of the total water discharge down stream even during the lean season.

This formed one of the pre-conditions for all hydro electric projects being executed in the state, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said while talking to a high level delegation of the National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC), which called on him here today. The delegation was headed by its Chairman-cum-Managing Director S K Garg.

He said that release of the water was required for the survival of marine life, wild life, recharging drinking water supply schemes and running of irrigation schemes.

Mr Singh said the State Government had formulated a new power policy whereby the hydel projects were required to contribute 1.5 per cent of the total project cost towards local area development fund for the affected people who were contributing in different ways for the construction of the hydel project.

He said the amount was required to be spent over creation of basic infrastructural facilities such as road, school, health, water supply schemes, community centres etc.

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