The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand ,Trivendra Singh Rawat took up the issue of stalled work on 33 hydro water projects on Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers with the Union Minister of State for power (Independent charge) R K Singh at New Delhi on Wednesday. The Union Minister assured that a coordinated interaction with power, water resources and Forest departments would be held to sort out the issue. An understanding to set up a hospitality university in Uttarakhand by funds from the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the public sector companies was also reached on the occasion.

The CM of Uttarakhand said that a 4179.59 square km area around 100 km long stretch of Bhagirathi River from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi in Uttarkashi district has been notified as eco sensitive zone. He said that the permission to start 10 hydropower projects of 25 MW capacity in this area should be granted on the lines of Western Ghats (Maharashtra) and Himachal Pradesh. Rawat also took up the case of lakhwad and Kisau multipurpose projects and requested the Union Government’s approval. He informed that 33 out of 70 hydropower projects on Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers with an estimated project cost of Rs 41000 Crore and 4060 MW capacity are closed due to objections raised by National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), Eco Sensitive Zone and High Court. The CM suggested that a joint affidavit by the power, water resources and environment ministries can induce approval of these projects. He informed the Union minister that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the proposed 300 MW Bavla- Nandprayag Hyrdopower project in Chamoli is pending at Central Electricity Tribunal. Similarly the Nandprayag -langasu power project is in limbo due to pending clearance by ministry of forest and environment.

The Union Minister accepted the proposal of the Uttarakhand CM to resolve the issue of 25 percent share of the state in the THDC India limited. A proposal for a sanction of Rs 1883.16 Crore for underground cabling in Dehradun, Haridwar and Nainital was put up before the power minister. A DPR for installation of Solar Roof top systems in government offices was also put up before the ministry of power. This project under Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) would cost a sum of Rs 190.68 crores.   The Secretary Power, Radhika Jha was also present on the occasion.