Dhami calls on Union Minister CR Patil, seeks clearance of hydropower projects
Garhwal Post Bureau
New Delhi, 14 Jul: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami last evening called on Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil in New Delhi. During the meeting, the CM pursued implementation of five key hydropower projects in the state. These proposals form part of a broader framework of 21 hydropower schemes recommended by an expert panel in compliance with directions issued by the Supreme Court, with the larger aim of catalysing Uttarakhand’s socio-economic progress.
During the meeting, Union Minister Patil assured the CM of a favourable and positive consideration of his request. In addition, official sources have also claimed the Centre has approved an allocation nearing Rs 7000 crores for Uttarakhand, which is expected to significantly bolster infrastructure development across the region. A major share of this funding is to be reserved towards advancing the proposed hydropower ventures, deemed essential to enhancing the state’s energy capacity and fuelling economic growth.
It may be recalled that CM Dhami has been regularly pursuing with the Centre approval of various hydropower projects in the state, none of which are planned on Ganga or its tributaries. These projects are anticipated to play a transformative role in strengthening energy security in Uttarakhand, which was once considered to be Urja Pradesh, though because of various hurdles, many proposed hydropower projects remain pending for approval or environmental clearances for years and now Uttarakhand has to buy a significant amount of power from the Centre and other sources.
