BJP hits back at Congress on power deal row
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 17 Sep: BJP State President and Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt today strongly rebutted Congress criticism of the 1320 MW thermal power agreement done by the government. In a statement issued today, Bhatt asserted that that the arrangement guarantees long-term energy security for Uttarakhand at a very competitive rate. Responding to Congress national spokesperson Pawan Khera’s remarks, Bhatt said the opposition should first account for its own decisions in the energy sector before questioning the present government.
Bhatt reminded that under the Congress rule in 2016, a gas power agreement was signed under which the state was compelled to pay as high as Rs 31.71 per unit in the financial year 2025–26. He added that in contrast, the current government has secured coal-based power at Rs 5.74 per unit for 25 years, a move he described as a major step towards stable supply and consumer welfare. He argued that the comparison itself highlights the difference in approach between the two governments.
He questioned Congress for opposing the Adani Group’s power deal in Uttarakhand while its own governments in Telangana and Karnataka have entered into similar agreements with the same group. He said the opposition must clarify why it adopts different positions in different states.
Bhatt emphasised that the 1,320 MW project is not being set up in Uttarakhand, meaning the state will neither provide land nor bear the pollution burdens. The sole objective is to ensure reliable electricity supply to meet rising demand in the coming decades. The BJP State President stressed that while hydropower remains the backbone of Uttarakhand’s energy system, hydropower production fluctuates with monsoon and natural conditions. Solar energy too is weather-dependent, making thermal power an essential base-load source to stabilise supply, especially during the disasters and lean seasons.
He reminded Congress of the frequent power cuts during its tenure and said the present government is working to secure uninterrupted supply while planning for future demand. He added that the state is diversifying its energy portfolio, investing in hydro, solar, small hydro, pump storage and thermal projects. Bhatt also reminded that several long-pending hydropower schemes such as Lakhwar, Kisau, Tyuni-Plasu and Bhyol-Rupsiabagar are being advanced alongside solar and small hydro initiatives to expand capacity by the Dhami led BJP Government in Uttarakhand.
Bhatt said that the government’s vision is to make Uttarakhand an energy-capable state that not only meets its own needs but also generates revenue, supports local development and creates employment. He insisted that Congress should explain why it had committed the state to costly gas-based power and why those decisions continue to burden finances even today. He claimed that the thermal power agreement is a pragmatic step to secure Uttarakhand’s future energy requirements, and if Congress has objections, it should present them with facts rather than political rhetoric.
