New Delhi/Dehradun,
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna called on Union Power Minister Dr. M Veerappa Moily on Wednesday and expressed his gratitude for giving priority to Uttarakhand for purchase of 15 percent additional power besides 13 percent free power generated from Dhauliganga-Gauriganga Hydro-power project at Pithoragarh district undertaken by NHPC.
Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to help in beginning all those projects that had received environmental clearance. Stating that Uttarakhand was called 'Urja Pradesh', Mr. Bahuguna revealed that State had to purchase power worth Rs. 900 crore the previous year to meet the demand. He said that hydro-power projects were instrumental for financial growth of the State and power generation for entire country.
Mr. Bahuguna underlining that Uttarakhand was compelled to purchase the power to meet the demand, urged the Union Minister to consider allocation of coal based power projects to State. He said that earlier too the Central Government was approached with request to establish coal based 660 MW Thermal Power Plant as per the policy of the Union Government and also to supply power to the State through National Grid.
Chief Minister Bahuguna said that on the assurance given by GAIL, Gas based Power projects had been set up at Kashipur. However, as GAIL was unable to supply gas the projects were not yet started. He said that owing to higher rate of gas in international market which is more than Rs. 6 per unit, the State Government was unable to purchase it. He urged the Union Minister to provide some alternative measures or chalk out policy so that these gas projects, in which large investment had been made, could be run to generate power.
