The Chief Minister Harish Rawat stressed on a uniform hydro-power policy applying for all the States of India, sans any illogical discrimination against any. He said this while addressing “Uttarakhand Power Conclave-2016” here in Dehradun on Saturday. He pointed out that Uttarakhand has to purchase electricity worth Rs1200 crore per annum in spite of immense possibilities loaded in hydro power in the State. This is utterly unfair for a State that is richly endowed with natural resources, he said.
CM asserted that hydro power has valuable contribution in the development of the State with electricity being the basic necessity of life today.“We need 20 per cent extra electricity every year. State has only two options- to develop its own resources or to purchase electricity from other States. It must be noted that parting with whopping Rs1200 crore per annum is bleeding Uttarakhand white,” he said.Speaking of the perceived role of dams in disasters, CM affirmed that nothing has linked 2013 deluge with the dams. “Rather Tehri Dam lessened the magnitude of the disaster substantially. The expert institutes like IIT Roorkee, Wadia Institute, and National Water Commission have confirmed this view,”he said.
Those who are spearheading anti – hydro power project stir must present alternatives, he said, adding that the State Government has initiated its new micro Hydro Power Policy to facilitate operation of small hydro power projects in collaboration with the Gram Panchayats.Chief secretary N Ravishankar said that balance between development and environment is necessary. “However, we cannot deny that economic development is based on energy production. We have to impart priority to the four Es- Environment, Energy, Economy and E –connectivity,” he added.