HP sets terms for power projects’ sale

 Kuldeep Chauhan

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Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 10

The plan to sell two power projects — 1000 mw Karcham-Wangtoo and 300 mw Baspa — in Kinnaur district by Jaiparkash Power Ventures Ltd (JP) to Jindal Steel Works (JSW) has hit a roadblock. The state government has sought an undertaking from JP Ventures Ltd stating “it would honour all pending 

liabilities before the government signs a fresh memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the new company.” 

Even tribals demand that JP Ventures Ltd should first settle the pending issue of Rs 103 crore Local Area Development Authority (LADA) fund. “The company has not got ‘no objection certificate’ (NOC) from 14 gram panchyats in Kinnaur to sell the projects”, claimed Ranjit Negi, convener, Himlok Jagriti Manch, Kinnaur. The company procured an NOC from four gram sabhas, but ignored 14 project-affected gram panchayats, Negi said. 

“The NOC is mandatory under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. Second, the company also violated the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), 1996, and tribal laws as the land is transferred from tribal to non-tribal category,” he alleged.