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Himachal to invest 
800 bn in power sector
Tuesday, 02 January 2007, 18:30 IST
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh plans to invest 
800 billion ($18 billion) in the next decade to exploit the untapped hydel power potential of the state and also rope in top private and state-run companies.
"This will help the state become the power center of the country," said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here Tuesday while releasing the state's new power policy.
"We have exploited 6,150 MW of hydel power and our effort is tap the total potential of 21,000 MW in the next decade or so," he said.
At 21,000 MW, the hill state has a quarter of the entire country's power potential.
"The state achieved 100 percent electrification way back in 1988 and the state offers the lowest power tariffs in the country to all segments of consumers," he said.
"Over 78,000 km of overhead lines have been laid. The highest power project in the country is located at Rongtong at 13,000 feet above sea level and the country's highest village Komik at 15,025 feet has already been electrified," the chief minister noted.
State Power Minister Vidya Stokes highlighted the main points of the power policy.
"Preference will be given to locals for investing in hydel projects up to 5 MW."
He added: "Projects above 5 MW and up to 100 MW shall be allotted to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) through the MoU (memorandum of understanding) by giving wide publicity to attract bidders."
Stokes said that projects above 100 MW would be thrown open for international competitive bidding.
According to the policy, the state government has the right to equity participation of up to 49 percent in private sector projects above 100 MW.
Source: IANS
800 billion ($18 billion) in the next decade to exploit the untapped hydel power potential of the state and also rope in top private and state-run companies.
"This will help the state become the power center of the country," said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here Tuesday while releasing the state's new power policy.
"We have exploited 6,150 MW of hydel power and our effort is tap the total potential of 21,000 MW in the next decade or so," he said.
At 21,000 MW, the hill state has a quarter of the entire country's power potential.
"The state achieved 100 percent electrification way back in 1988 and the state offers the lowest power tariffs in the country to all segments of consumers," he said.
"Over 78,000 km of overhead lines have been laid. The highest power project in the country is located at Rongtong at 13,000 feet above sea level and the country's highest village Komik at 15,025 feet has already been electrified," the chief minister noted.
State Power Minister Vidya Stokes highlighted the main points of the power policy.
"Preference will be given to locals for investing in hydel projects up to 5 MW."
He added: "Projects above 5 MW and up to 100 MW shall be allotted to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) through the MoU (memorandum of understanding) by giving wide publicity to attract bidders."
Stokes said that projects above 100 MW would be thrown open for international competitive bidding.
According to the policy, the state government has the right to equity participation of up to 49 percent in private sector projects above 100 MW.
Source: IANS