Reliance Energy (REL) has bagged the 280 MW Urthing Sobla hydro power project on the Dhauliganga river in Pithoragarh district of Uttaranchal. According to a release issued by REL to the BSE today, "the company took part in a two-stage bidding process involving pre-qualification and financial bids in which the bidding criterion was the amount of premium the bidder would pay the government of Uttaranchal. The bids were opened on April 5, 2005, and a formal letter of award is expected soon."Urthing Sobla will be the first hydro power project to be developed by REL, the release added.