Himachal Pradesh Cabinet Grants Conditional Approval to Pending Power Projects, Initiates Investigation
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Shimla, Jan 13 : In a recent cabinet meeting, the Himachal Pradesh government decided to grant conditional approval to power projects ranging from 5 to 25 megawatts. The status of these pending projects will undergo scrutiny by a committee formed for this purpose. The committee will examine the documents submitted to the government and investigate the reasons for the delayed initiation of these projects.
The Cabinet has further decided that water cess will be imposed on these projects, and project owners will be required to submit affidavits for the same. Approval to initiate the projects will be granted only after the successful submission of water cess by the project owners.
The Himachal Pradesh government currently has 13 projects with capacities ranging from 5 to 25 megawatts awaiting approval. These projects will be thoroughly examined to ensure compliance with regulations. It’s noteworthy that the state government has established the Water Authority to oversee water cess collections.
Up till now, nearly 30 hydroelectric companies have submitted water cess payments, while several others have received notices for non-compliance. The investigation aims to streamline the approval process for pending projects and ensure adherence to environmental and regulatory standards.
