Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu assured the Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) of all possible support to develop the infrastructure for its upcoming power projects.

Presiding over a meeting with the senior SJVNL officers here, the Chief Minister said that the hydroelectric power generation company has set a benchmark in the power generation sector and that the plant availability factor of it is highest in the country.

“The State Government has received a dividend of Rs 2,355 crore against the equity contribution of Rs 1,055 crore and 12 percent free power from Nathpa Jhakri and Rampur hydro power projects amounting to around Rs 7000 crore so far,” he said.

Furthermore, 22 percent additional power at bus-bar rate from Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station (NJHPS) amounting to about Rs. 4200 crore has also been obtained, the Chief Minister added.

Emphasizing on the use of emerging technology of power generation, he said that a pilot plant on Green Hydrogen Generation was under way at NJHPS, Jhakri.

He said that a solar module manufacturing plant at Parwanoo would also be set up by the SJVNL.

It was disclosed that the hydro electric power generation company is coming up with 5 Solar Power Projects (SPPs) in the state. Thaplan, Solar Power Project (SPP) of 112.5 MW was being set up in district Una. In addition, 20 MW SPP Bhanjal and Kadh in Una district, 20 MW in Fatehpur in Kangra district, 30 MW SPP Kolar in Sirmaur district and 12.5 MW in Rajgir in district Kangra were under pre-construction stage.

The Chief Minister said that the State Government would help hydro electric power generation companies execute all these projects. He asked SJVNL to hike share of State Government upto 12 percent in upcoming solar power projects.

A committee would be constituted under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary to monitor the execution of these power projects so that they could be completed within a stipulated time period.

He said that the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) and other line departments would certainly benefit from their expertise to make Himachal Pradesh a power state.

Directions were also issued to HPSEBL officers to reduce the maintenance time of machinery used in various power projects and it should be avoided in peak power generation season so that efficiency of the power projects increases thereby generating more income.

SJVNL, Chairman and Managing Director, Nand Lal Sharma apprised him of the various power projects of SJVNL being executed in Himachal Pradesh.