In a bid to promote power generation by the local people, the State Government is going to give 25 per cent incentive to the entrepreneur if he sets up a power plant in the plains and 50 per cent power rights if he sets up a plant in the hills. This was disclosed by the Chief Minister Harish Rawat while interacting with the media persons at Bijapur Guest House on Thursday. The State is going to award the small hydro power projects under small industry category.
CM further said that to continue with the status of energy- rich state, he had convened a meeting and asked the officials to consider six points while framing policy for power generation in the state in which upto 2 MW small hydro power projects will be given to the Gram Sabha as part of special purpose vehicle. In this, the viability gap will be borne by the State Government.
For projects with generation capacity ranging from 2 MW to 25 MW, the State Government has divided things into two parts. For power projects with capacity ranging from 2 MW to 5 MW, no water user charges will be levied; there would be no royalty either and the government will give land on lease at nominal rates. Other duties will also be exempted and they will be provided insurance cover from natural calamity by the state. However, they will have to release water from reservoirs for drinking and irrigation purposes to the local residents at nominal rates.
Without blaming the BJP-led Uttarakhand Government between 2009 and 2011 — the period when the erstwhile State Government had allocated 56 hydro power projects and later cancelled them because they had not allegedly done proper homework on it, CM Rawat said that the state had suffered a major setback because of the power projects being cancelled that way. This is why we are making it public, seeking their feedback. While allocating the power projects, the State Government will give priority to the Uttarakhand people if their firms are registered. Even if the outsiders are to be awarded they will have to do so on partnership with the local people or gram sabha. In that case, the company will have to give 25 per cent partnership to the local or gram sabha. It will be awarded through open auction. To promote local entrepreneurs, the state will authorise them to use 25 per cent of electricity for their own consumption.
If it is in the hills they will be authorised to use 50 per cent power of their plant for their own consumption. The state will go for amendments if the situation so warrants. This aside, the State Government is making solar power policy for the hills and plains as well.
Besides, the State Government has also constituted five members Resource Mobilisation committee led by the ex chief secretary Indu Kumar Pandey. Additional secretary to CM Dilip Jawalkar would be secretary of the committee, lM Pant and Chandrashekhar semwal would be members and one member having exposure in revenue and natural resources will be appointed as member of the committee.