In order to speed up construction of hydro power projects in Himachal, the state government will constitute a committee to address the issues raised by power producers of the state, said Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.

The committee would be constituted under the chairmanship of Power Minister, Anil Sharma. Thakur said this while presiding over a seminar on “Speedy Development of Hydro Electric Projects in Himachal Pradesh” organised by Bonafide Himachalis Hydro Power Developers and Himalaya Power Producers Association here on Saturday.

The seminar was organised in collaboration with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India and MPP and Power Department and NES government of Himachal Pradesh.

The CM said Himachal has a distinct identity of a power producing state in the country and the world as there is a huge potential in Himachal Pradesh for hydropower, however in the last few years the work had been stalled owing to various issues.

“After the new government assumed power in the state, we have discussed on the issue and are trying to create a positive atmosphere for the hydropower developers. We are trying best to revive the sector which is very much significant for the development of the state and an important means to generate revenue of the state through this sector,” he said.

Efforts would be made to simplify procedures for according clearances for setting up of power projects, he said, adding that the government would sympathetically consider all the genuine demands of the power producers. He said the power producers would be independent to sell the electricity generated by them to other interested buyers.

The state government has decided that the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd would purchase electricity produced by the small power projects up to 25 MW capacity in order to help the power producers of these projects and attract more investment in power sector, he said. Jai Ram Thakur said the state has identified potential of over 27000 MW, which once fully harnessed has the potential to transform the economy of the state.