Friday, 09 August 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Jal Shakti minister CR Patil in New Delhi on Thursday. In the meeting the CM said that water is an important resource for the social and economic development of Uttarakhand and hydropower projects are the major factors in increasing the gross domestic product of the state.
He said that to meet the demand of electricity the State has to purchase power worth Rs 1,000 crore from the open market every year. Dhami told Patil that the state has a potential to produce 25 thousand MW of hydroelectricity but at present only 4,200 MW capacity is being exploited.
He said that in the review meeting chaired by the principal secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, approval of only seven projects out of 70 projects proposed in the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi river valley was given and the State was asked not to start any new projects in these river valleys.
The CM told the Union minister that no ban has been imposed on the hydroelectric projects on river valleys other than Ganga and its tributaries. He said that the Central Water Commission / Ministry of Water Resources is not giving approval for the development of projects proposed in Pithoragarh district on other river valleys such as Dhauliganga and Gauriganga. Dhami requested Patil to grant permission for speedy development and construction of projects located on other river valleys of the state.
The CM also requested approval of funding for Jamrani multipurpose project.
