Uhl Project Phase III to be made functional by January 2025: CM

· Rs 85 crore approved as ‘sovereign guarantee’

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today inspected third phase of Uhl Project in Mandi today. He said that lack of funds would not be allowed to hinder the completion of this project. He announced an additional amount of Rs 85 crore as ‘sovereign guarantee’ for this project and said that Rs 100 crore has already been provided in March this year for the project.

The Chief Minister said that since the work of this project was going on for the last few years resulting in escalation of its cost. The present state government has now speeded up the work of this project. He said that by the end of December or January, 2025, power generation will be started after completing all technical investigations and findings. Tata Power Limited has been entrusted with the responsibility under Third Party Quality Control to ensure quality in the construction work of the project. After its commissioning, it will add to an additional income for the state, he remarked.

He directed the project managers to complete this work within the targeted period and no scarcity of funds would be allowed to come in the way.

The Chief Minister said the hydel sector was one of the main components of revenue generation and the state government was taking concrete steps to utilise its full potential. To make Himachal a green energy state by 2026, the government will harness all its renewable energy sources like hydro power, solar energy and green hydrogen in a productive and massive scale.

Sukhu said that the state government was providing about Rs 2200 crore to the Electricity Board as a grant and efforts were to make the board self-reliant and many important decisions were being taken in this direction. The state government is also considering the transfer of powers to the concerned officials for various works related to energy production.