Himachal open to atomic power plants

Immediately after release of the state8217;s new power policy, the chief minister told mediapersons that government has entered into a joint venture with a Kolkata-based company to set-up a 500 MW thermal power plant. 8220;A proposal has already been sent to the Centre for allottment of coal to the state, from anywhere in Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar or Chhattisgarh,8221; he said. In addition, the government was ready for a gas-based power plant as well, he said.

Virbhadra Singh said the state8217;s power potential will be exploited by involving the private sector and promoting joint ventures. He said, 8220;the state has so much potential that there will not be any shortage of power in the next 100 years.8221;

He also underlined the need for human resource development to meet an increased demand of engineers in the hydro power sector alone. The newly set-up power corporation will soon start functioning, giving new job opportunities to engineers, he said.