Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami presided over the 23rd foundation day function of UJVN Limited here on Saturday. He said that the hydro power corporations should focus on electricity production as per the requirements of the industries in the State. The UJVNL managing director Sandeep Singhal presented a Rs 20.10 crore dividend cheque to the CM on the occasion which also saw Dhami inaugurating UJVNL’s new corporate building and flagging off a bus presented to Saraswati Vidya Inter College, Bhaniyawala as part of the corporation’s CSR initiative.
Speaking on the occasion, Dhami said that the Rs 3,50,000 crore investment proposals received during the recent Global Investors Summit include proposals for investment amounting to Rs 1,00,000 crore in the energy sector. He stressed that UJVNL should further increase the 2,200 MW power generation target by 2030. He expected that hydro power corporations should focus on fulfilling the energy requirements of the existing industries and the industries slated to be established in the state. He stressed that all departments and institutions should resolve for a better work culture and zero pendency.
Dhami said, “UJVNL was formed after creation of Uttarakhand to make this an energy State in the real sense. UJVNL is proving this by achieving record electricity generation every year. I hope that the corporation will continue to set new records in the energy sector with its better work culture and efficient management. At the time of the State’s creation, the energy sector was considered to be the basis of our economy but we have not fully succeeded in achieving our target. The time has come for all to think how to move forward swiftly in this direction,” the CM said.
He said that the State receives necessary cooperation from the Centre for timely completion of development projects in the energy sector. The Lakhwad multipurpose hydro power project is an example of this with work being executed at a swift pace on the project. About 475 million unit electricity will be generated from this project which will create new opportunities for the State in the energy sector, he added.
Additional chief secretary and UJVNL chairperson Radha Raturi said that efforts are underway for the past two years to make Uttarakhand an energy State. She said that power corporations should focus on balancing between ecology and economy while focusing on making Uttarakhand a leading State in the power sector.
Speaking on the occasion, Singhal said that UJVNL’s projects had generated 5,433 million unit in 2022-23 and generated a profit of Rs 115.64 crore. UJVNL is providing dividend to the State government regularly for the past seven years, he added.
