Wednesday, 03 JULY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has asked the three power corporations of the State- the UPCL, UJVNL and PTCUL to work in coordination to double the power production of the State in next five years. The CM reviewed the Power department at the State secretariat on Tuesday.
He directed the officers of the three power corporations to complete the under construction projects within the stipulated time frame. The CM said that power and tourism sectors were at the core of the idea of creation of a separate State. He said that there is an urgent need to work at a fast pace in the power sector and directed that in view of the ongoing rainy season safety audit of all the transformers should be done. The CM said that the power production needed to be increased in view of the increasing number of the industrial units in the State.
He said that work on the under construction hydro power projects should be done at a fast pace and the power availability in the government buildings should be done by the solar rooftops. The CM said that the maximum number of people should get employment opportunities by the Pradhan Mantri Solar self employment scheme. He added that the UPCL should ensure that maximum number of people avail the benefit of the PM Surya Ghar free electricity scheme. In the meeting the CM directed that construction of new power houses and transmission lines should be done at a fast pace. He directed the officers to reduce the transmission losses. The CM also asked the officers to expedite the process of undergrounding of the power lines.
The officers informed the CM that six mini hydropower projects of 121 MW capacity have been sanctioned in the State. The 24 MW Melekhet and 21 MW Khutani hydropower projects will be completed till December 2026 while work on 22.08 MW Barnigad and six MW Rayat hydropower projects will commence in the coming two years.
Initial feasibility report of the 200 MW Lakhwad- Byasi, 150 MW Byasi- Kata Pathar and 168 MW Kalagarh projects under the Pump Storage projects is being prepared. The officers also informed that under the battery energy storage system, Tiloth, Khatima and Dhakrani projects of one MW each are also being developed.
The deputy chairman of the State infrastructure monitoring committee Vishwas Dawar, chief secretary Radha Raturi, principal secretary RK Sudhanshu, secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram and the managing directors of the three power corporations attended the meeting.
