HP's hydro policy to attract Rs 80,000 crore investment

Shimla, Jan 28 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh's new hydro power policy will help in attracting Rs 80,000 crore investment to the state, accelerating the pace of development in the state, an official spokesman today said.

Provided Himachal was able to harness 21,000 MW identified hydel power potential, the state would attract Rs 80,000 crore investment in the next decade, he said in a release here.

The spokesman said under the policy, hydel power projects up to two MW would be reserved exclusively for Himachalis, while preference would be given to people of the state and cooperatives for allocating projects between two and 25 MW.

The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) and Himachal Power Corporation (HPC) were identifying mini hydel projects for allocation in the state, he said.

He said under the policy, the state government reserved the right to allot projects up to 25 MW to HPC or HPSEB or Independent Power Produces and above 25 MW to HPC and Independent Power Producers.

Himachal has an identified hydel potential of 21,000 MW, which was 25 per cent of the total potential in the country, out of which it was only harnessing 6,311 MW power, he said.

The spokesman said 15 per cent of the project cost would be utilised by the district-level development authority.

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