Uttarakhand CM meets Union Minister CR Patil, apprises him of hydropower projects in state

New Delhi [India], August 8 : Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil in New Delhi on Thursday and said that water is an important resource for the social and economic development of Uttarakhand and hydropower projects are the main factor in increasing the state's gross domestic product.
He said that to meet the demand for electric energy in Uttarakhand, energy worth Rs 1,000 crore is purchased every year from the open market. About 25 thousand MW of hydropower potential has been estimated from the water sources available in the state, but at present, only 4200 MW capacity is being exploited.
He said that in the review chaired by the Principal Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office, out of the 70 projects proposed in the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi river valleys, instructions have been given to continue the construction of only seven projects whose construction work has been completed by more than 50 per cent and not to start any new project.
The Chief Minister apprised the Union Jal Shakti Minister that no ban has been imposed on the proposed hydropower projects on river valleys other than Ganga and its tributaries on the border of Uttarakhand.
CM Dhami also informed that the Central Water Commission is also not approving the development of projects proposed in Pithoragarh district on other river valleys of the state such as Dhauliganga, and Gauriganga. In this regard, the Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to grant permission for the quick development and construction of projects located in other river valleys of the state.
He also requested approval of funding for the Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program.
The Uttarakhand Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to grant early approval on the recommendation of 100 per cent central funding for 15 projects costing Rs 170.57 crore in the border district of Pithoragarh of the state in the meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee held in March 2023.
CM Dhami also informed the Union Minister that a high-level committee has been constituted by the Uttarakhand Government to complete the Lakhwad Multipurpose Project soon, which is reviewing it regularly.
He also requested the Union Minister for instructions to take immediate action regarding the issuance of drawings on priority from the Central Water Commission under the Ministry of Jal Shakti to complete the project soon.