CM urges for sanctioning Power Equipments Manufacturing Hub for the State

Shimla, Nov 27 –

The State Government has urged the Union Government to ask Power Grid Corporation to prepare effective plan for power evacuation from Chenab basin and from Spiti area of the State. This was stated by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while addressing the Chief Ministers’ Plenary Session of virtual 3^rd Global Renewable Energy Investment Meeting and Expo, RE-Invest 2020 which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday. About twenty five thousand delegates participated in this event virtually across the globe.

Chief Minister said that the State Government had identified renewal energy of 6000 MW in Chenab basin as well as Spiti area of the State. He said that the power projects have been allocated for execution to SJVNL, NTPC and NHPC on Chenab river basin. He said that in addition to this, 880 MW mega solar park has been allocated to SJVNL in Spiti area for development. He said that effective evacuation plan was required to evacuate power from both these areas.

Jai Ram Thakur said that State Government was also working on ‘Green Gaushala’ Scheme in the State, in which self sufficient bio gas would be produced by fully harnessing solar power. He urged the Union Government to help the State Government in this regard. He said that Himachal Pradesh has immense potential of bio mass which include lakhs of tonne of bio mass every year in form of pine needles and lantana in the forests of the State. He said that for exploiting this potential for power generation we have started ‘Pine Needle Based Briquettes’.

Chief Minister urged the Union Minister of State for Power and Renewal Energy R.K. Singh for sanctioning Power Equipments Manufacturing Hub for the State. He said that the State Government would provide the manufacturers power at attractive rates besides other utilities. He urged the Union Minister for providing grant for common facilities and infrastructure.

Jai Ram Thakur said that the State had about 24000 MW harnessable power potential in the State which was about 40 percent of the total potential of the country. He said that till date 10596 MW had been harnessed and the State Government has set up a target of harnessing another 10000 MW in the next ten years.

Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy and Skill Development R.K. Singh while delivering his address said that the annual renewable energy capacity addition has been exceeding that of coal based thermal power since 2017 and during the last six years, India has increased installed renewable energy capacity by two and half times. He said that India has shown the world that sound environmental policies can also be vibrant economics. He said that it was under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that today the aim of ‘One Nation One Grid’ has been achieved.

Union Minister assured the Chief Minister for providing all possible assistance to the State for its endeavour for ‘Green Gaushala’ Scheme, setting up of Power Equipments Manufacturing Hub in the State and for power evacuation from the remote areas of the State.

Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani, Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Chief Minister Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, Lt. Governor of Ladakh Radha Krishan Mathur also shared their views on the occasion.