Cong making allegations out of frustration: Nishank

He said the allotment of the hydropower projects is being done as per the policy declared by the previous B C Khanduri govt.

Accusing the Congress of misleading the people over allotment of hydropower projects in Uttarakhand,Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank on Thursday said that the applications are being scrutinised and objections raised on them being examined.

He said the Congress’ charges stem out of frustration as his government has launched various development projects in the state.

Nishank claimed that not a single out of the total 56 self-identified mini hydroprojects has been alloted so far.

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“The applications are being scrutinised,the objections raised on them are being examined and final allotment is yet to be made,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the government would sign purchase agreements with companies which would give the state the first right to buy power produced from the projects.

The Congress had alloted hydropower projects without any policy and did not take any premium from the developers which cost the state exchequer heavily,he said,adding that his government has fixed a premium of Rs 5 lakh per MW which would fetch crores of rupees for the state.

He said his government has launched various projects in the fields of infrastructure,tourism,education and health,which is the reason why the Congress is frustrated.

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During the past 3 years,the BJP government has constructed 3309 km of roads and 72 bridges every year. 308 MW of power has been produced and industrial investments worth Rs 7058 crores every year have been made,Nishank said.

He said the allotment of the hydropower projects is being done as per the policy declared by the previous B C Khanduri government,adding that the Congress should not raise such controversies as it could discourage big industrialists from coming to Uttarakhand.