New Committee For NOC To Hydropower Projects
Himachal This Week, Shimla
The state government has constituted a new committee to give no objection certificate (NOC) to hydropower projects in hill state. The new committee will give approval to all new power projects on merit basis under the power policy rules. There will be new provisions added to it also that could feature few relief providing measures extended by the government. The committee has been constituted under the leadership of Additional Principal Secretary, Fishery that will inquire various aspects of the projects. Notably, the hydropower project managers had to necessarily take approval and NOC from the Fishery department for construction of projects. Therefore Additional Principal Secretary, Fishery has been made chairman of the committee that includes officials from other departments too. Until now such committees were under the energy department. Besides additional principal secretary, Fishery other members in the new committee includes Chief Engineer (P & M) Electricity Board, Director Himurja and Director Energy while Director Fishery has been made member secretary of the committee. CEO Aquaculture, Fishing and Marketing Society has also been made member of this new committee. Fish production takes a big dig in areas where hydropower projects are installed. Therefore government has made special provisions and taking NOC of fishery department has been made mandatory. Now all applications of hydropower projects will be scrutinised by this new committee.
No Relief To Adani Group
Himachal This Week, Shimla
Lending money to a company for construction of hydropower project in Himachal has proved costly for Adani. The company has not returned amount to Adani group until now. Adani during the previous BJP government’s tenure was demanding return of his money and the same pressure was maintained on the present government. In between, the government had taken a decision, but the project did not find buyers. As a result the matter got stuck. Now the Cabinet has gone in total denial mode. Notably, about Rs 280 crore amount of India’s renowned company Adani is stuck that it had lend to Brakel company for construction of Jangi-Thopan and Jangi-Powari hydropower project. Brakel company paid this amount as an upfront premium to the state government. But the company failed to establish the project and left its claim on the project. However in such a scenario, Adani group has to ask money from Brakel group, but the company is demanding it from the state government. This claim of Adani company is not correct as per technical aspects and law department has also given its advice to the government in this regard. This matter has been discussed numerous times in the Cabinet in last five years. But the government does not want to enter into any controversy by releasing this amount to Adani group. However neither the previous BJP government released the money nor the present government buckled demand. The matter was discussed in last Cabinet meeting also but no decision was taken.
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