Stakeholders’ nod will be taken for hydel projects in Himachal: SJVN

Shimla, October 1

Mini Navratna public sector undertaking Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) will not construct hydropower projects without the consent of stakeholders and will reach out to local people to seek their support, said Nand Lal Sharma, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the Nigam, here today.

“People, who are not affected by the projects, are opposing them and some organisations, which are getting funds from outside, are trying to stall developmental projects,” he said while addressing mediapersons.

The Nigam was taking extra precautions and henceforth drilling and blasting would not be done in the construction of tunnels and tunnel boring machines (TBM technology), which cause least disturbance, would be used, he said.

“The SJVN is diversifying into solar, wind and thermal power to promote “clean and green” energy and the share of these alternative energy modes will be 30 per cent of the total portfolio of 5,000 MW by 2024 and 50 per cent of 12,000 MW capacity by 2030,” said Sharma. The Nigam’s shared vision was to emerge as a 25,000 MW company by 2040, he added.

Sharma said, “The SJVN has developed expertise and raised efficiency levels. There will be no cost or time overrun in projects under construction and the problem of silting in the 1,500 MW Nathpa-Jhakri project has been solved to a large extend by an in-house technology and the repairs that earlier took about 70 days are being done in eight to 10 days”.

He said that the SJVN would invest Rs 75,000 crore by 2030, including Rs 23,000 crore in Himachal. The SJVN had signed six MOUs with the Himachal Government during the Global Investors’ Meet in Dharamsala in November 2019 and the work had started on two projects. The work was about to start on the third project while the survey and the preparation of a DPR was underway with regard to the remaining three projects, he added. — TNS

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