BJP questions Congress’ stand on power generation in Uttarakhand after Adani deal
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Bharatiya Janata Party State president and Rajya Sabha member Mahendra Bhatt, while reacting to the questions raised by Congress national spokesman Pawan Khera on the 1,320 megawatt thermal power agreement of Uttarakhand, said that before raising questions on the energy sector, the Congress should give an account of the decisions taken during its tenure in office.
Bhatt said that due to the gas power agreement signed in 2016 during the Congress’ term in office, the State had to pay up to Rs 31.71 per unit for gas-based electricity in the 2025-26 fiscal year. In contrast, the current government has secured a long-term arrangement for 1,320 MW of coal-based electricity at approximately Rs 5.74 per unit for 25 years. He said that comparing the two rates reveals the current government’s commitment to the State’s energy security and consumer interests. Questioning the Congress’ allegations, he said that while the Congress is questioning the power agreement involving the Adani Group in Uttarakhand, in Congress-ruled Sates, agreements have been signed with the same group for investment and energy projects in various sectors. Therefore, the Congress should clarify the basis for its opposition to this issue in Uttarakhand.
Bhatt stated that the 1,320 MW project is not being located in Uttarakhand. The State will neither have to surrender its land for the project nor will it incur the pollution burden associated with the project. The State’s goal is to ensure a long-term and stable supply for future growing electricity demand. He said that Uttarakhand’s energy needs are set to grow rapidly in the coming years. Therefore, a long-term power arrangement for 25 years is an important step towards the State’s energy security.
The BJP State president said that hydropower plays a significant role in Uttarakhand’s power system, but fluctuations in production are possible due to weather and natural conditions while solar energy is also weather-dependent. Therefore, thermal power as a base-load can play an important role in stabilizing the State’s power supply.
Bhatt said that the Congress party should also recall the state of power supply during its tenure. The current government is striving to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the state and to ensure energy resources in line with future demand. He claimed that the government is working on various energy sources including hydro, solar, small hydro, pump storage and thermal instead of relying on just one source.
The BJP leader said that while the State is advancing long-pending hydropower projects, work is also underway in the solar and small hydropower sectors. Projects like Lakhwar, Kisau, Tyuni-Plasu, and Bhyol-Rupsiabagad are crucial to increasing the state’s future energy capacity. He said that the government’s aim is to make Uttarakhand an energy-efficient state which, along with meeting its growing needs, can also link the energy sector with revenue, local development and employment opportunities. Bhatt said that instead of levelling baseless allegations, the Congress should explain under what circumstances the expensive gas-based power contracts were signed during its rule and why the state is having to bear the economic burden of those decisions today. He said that the Uttarakhand government has made a long-term arrangement for 1,320 MW electricity, keeping in mind the State’s future energy needs. If the Congress party has any objections to this, it should present its views based on facts rather than political accusations.
