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Journalism of Courage
SHIMLA, July 27: The power surplus state of Himachal Pradesh is looking for suitable buyers to supply its power and pump back its power revenue for execution of new hydel projects in the state.
State Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who replied to the discussion on HPSEB8217;s annual budget for year 1998-99 in state assembly, claimed that state had been finding difficult to sell out the power generated from the projects in its territory. Despite this, the state government was to go ahead with its ambitious plan to exploit over 20,000 mw hydel potential by involving the Central Government and even private sector agencies. Few projects would also be reserved for execution by the HPSEB, he said.
Dhumal also gave details of new plans on the exploitation of the hydel potential and said matter had been taken up with the Centre to provide liberal funds or join hand with the state government for joint venture execution of the projects.
Later, in his reply, he assured that financial bids approved by the previous government for 800 mw Kol Dam project had not been cancelled and negotiations were on with the party to bring down the generation rates of the power. Similarly, the Centre had also been asked to take up work for Chamera project and Parbati hydel project.
Earlier, initiating the discussion former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh cautioned the government against delays in execution of the projects. He maintained that his own experience about the NHPC, which had been invited by the government now to take up works for Kol Dam or Parbati, was not satisfactory. Singh said the government8217;s decision to scrap financial bids and global tenders on Kol Dam would further delay the process for execution of the project.He advised that unionism among engineers, who are at the policy making levels, must be discouraged to create a better working atmosphere in the board.
On a point raised by former Chief Minister Ram Lal Thakur about non-inclusion of Sawara-Khuda project in the budget, Dhumal assured that steps were being taken to hand over the project to private sector for its execution.
Others who spoke included Yogendra Chandra, Asha Kumari, Viplove Thakur, Chander Kumar, Kishori Lal Industries Minister Rajan Sushant, Rikhi Ram Kaundal, Ram Lal Thakur and Ravinder Ravi.
