The Himachal Pradesh State Power Transmission Corporation would be executing a Rs. 2000 crore Power Evacuation Project to evacuate power generated on the water of five major rivers in the State. Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister said this today after performing the foundation stone laying ceremony of 33 KV Sub Station at Fojal in district Kullu estimated to cost of Rs. 70.40 crore.
Chief Minister said that State had hydel power potential of over 23000 MW out of which only 2838 MW power was generated till 1998, when the BJP came to power in the State. He said that the generation was increased to about 8000 MW during the BJP regime and 1000 MW more would be added in a couple of months to the total power generation. He said that the State Government had targeted generation of 15000 MW power by the year 2017 and the entire potential by 2020. He said that the power projects being executed in the river basins of Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab and Yamuna were facing power evacuation problems, which would be solved in the times to come. He said that Rs. 2000 crore power evacuation project would help in transmitting the power to the main Power Grid, for onward transmission to the different areas within and outside the State.
Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that the proposed transmission system at Fojal was likely to be completed during the year 2013-14 and it would facilitate transfer of about 350 MW of small hydel generation projects and 292 MW of large Hydro Electric project to the Northern Grid. He said that in addition to this, the newly developed system would augment local supply during winters and help in improving the low voltage problems in tourist places like Manali and Manikaran. He said that 33KV switching station at Palchan and 10 kms long 33 KV line on mono poles from Palchan to Prini would also be constructed at a cost of Rs.45 crore with financial assistance from Asian Development Bank (ADB).
He said that 220 KV line from Prini to Nalagarh would be built at a cost of Rs. 70 crore. He said that 220 high capacity line from Charor to 400 KV Sub Station at Banala would also be constructed at a cost of Rs.120 crore with financial assistance from ADB.
The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the former Prime Minister Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee and former Power Minister, late Shri Kumarmanglam for paying special attention towards power generation needs of the State and for providing liberal assistance from time to time in achieving the objective. He said that it was during the NDA regime at the Centre that the first hydro electric project was allocated for execution to National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).
He said that Himachal Pradesh was land of Gods and Goddesses and had produced best soldiers who laid down their lives for the cause of the Nation. He said that during preceding year, a record 1.5 crore tourists visited the State, which was double to the population of the State. He said that the State Government was creating quality infrastructural facilities to facilitate the visitors visiting Himachal Pradesh.
He said that the State had extended health insurance cover of Rs. 1.75 lakh to the working journalists, besides increasing the amount of revolving fund from Rs. 10 to Rs. 25 lakh. He said that it was for the first time in the history of the country that any State had provided insurance cover of Rs. one lakh to the petty traders and wayside vendors. He said that during past more than four years, the budget presented by the State Government had catered to the needs of the different sections of the society. He assured the people of considering their demands sympathetically.
Later, he also addressed party workers at Dobhi village.
Govind Thakur, MLA welcomed the Chief Minister and thanked him for paying day long visit to his segment. He requested the Chief Minister to provide aerial ropeway facility to those villages which had no connectivity by road so far. He also apprised of other demands of the area. Khimi Ram Sharma, Forest Minister, Kishori Lal Sagar, MLA, Ani, Kunj Lal Thakur, former Minister, Chander Sen, former MLA, Trilok Kapoor, Chairman, Wool Federation, Ram Singh, District BJP President, Yuvraj Bodh, Vice Chairman, BJP SC/ST Cell, Bal Mukund, President, Manali BJP, Jagdish Sharma, Managing Director, Himachal Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation Ltd., S.N. Bishtu, Director Project, Ashok Sharma, GM and K.L. Chug, Chairman, Fojal Power Project were also present on the occasion among others.
