‘Sai Kothi hydel projects to be built in 4 years’

Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) Chairman Sanjay Gupta has said both Sai Kothi hydroelectric projects (I and II), with a total capacity of 33 MW, would be built at a cost of Rs 561 crore within four years.

The projects were recently allotted by the state government to the HPSEBL for construction, and are set to come up in Chamba district. The foundation stones of these were laid by Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on August 4.

Gupta said about 128 million units of power would be generated annually from these projects — which would generate an income of about Rs 63.5 crore for the state.

Of the total cost of the project, 1.5 per cent has been earmarked as a local area development fund.

Gupta said the projects would provide employment opportunities to the area residents. The construction work of the long-pending 100 MW Uhal III Hydroelectric Project had been completed by the board, he said, adding that it had generated 180 million units of electricity so far, resulting in Rs 90-crore revenue.