UREDA made nodal agency for power projects upto 100 Kw

Dehra Dun, Jan 18 (PTI) Uttarakhand Renewable EnergyDevelopment Agency (UREDA) has been made the nodal agency fordeveloping power projects upto 100 Kw with participation oflocal people in the hill state.

This was announced after a state cabinet meeting chairedby Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank.

Briefing reporters, state Chief Secretary Subhash Kumarsaid the decision was aimed at expediting the process ofsetting up power projects in the state.

These projects would be developed through localpanchayats or other local bodies, societies and local NGOs,Kumar said, adding a total of 80 applications have beenreceived by the government so far in this regard.

Kumar said Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission(UERC) has also fixed the rate of power to be produced fromsuch projects for supply at Rs 3.50 per unit.

He said the central government gives a grant of Rs 80,000per Kw for developing projects in special category states likeUttarakhand.

It provided assistance of around Rs One lakh per kw forsuch projects in border districts, he said.

Earlier, all power projects other than thenon-conventional ones were being developed by Uttarakhand JalVidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL).