HP okays Rs 280 cr refund to Adani

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 4

The Himachal Cabinet today decided to refund Rs 280 crore upfront premium to M/S Adani Power Limited for the Jangi-Thopan (480MW) and Thopan-Powari (480MW) hydel project, which had been awarded to Brakel.

The impending decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here.

Sources said despite conflicting views by a minister, it has been decided that the upfront money paid would be refunded as and when the money is deposited by the company that agrees to take up the project.

Reliance has already agreed to accept the state government offer to execute the project, which remained caught in legal tangles for eight years.

The Cabinet has also decided to reduce the upfront premium per MW power from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 1 lakh. It further decided to charge Re 1 as its share in the cost of land for the power projects instead of the present 10 per cent, which was 3.5 per cent earlier. This decision too was approved despite reservations by a senior minister.

The Cabinet decided to give an extension of two years in service along with an increment to the National awardee teachers as a Teacher's Day gift. Similarly, those honoured with state-level awards will also be given one-year extension in service.

The Cabinet decided to sell power available with the government on account of equity participation in the Rampur Hydropower Station. It also decided to reallocate 30 per cent power available with the 

state to the HP State Electricity Board to meet its long-term planning to provide uninterrupted power supply to consumers.

A decision was taken to invite global bids for implementation of 37 hydel projects (1131.2 mw) in the state on the basis of quoting the highest upfront premium over and above the minimum threshold amount and by liberalising the terms and condition of the bid document. It was also decided to allot Thaltu Khor-I and II small hydroelectric project of 5 mw each to Clif Finvest.

It was also decided to fill 975 posts of Junior Office Assistant (IT) in government departments. The decision was also taken to create a new block in Jawalaji, Palampur and Doon Assembly segments which didn’t have development blocks earlier. After this, there is no constituency in the state left without blocks.