With its two key hydel projects put on hold, the Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL) is gearing up to prepare anew the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of two big hydel projects – 420 Mw Lakhwar-Vyasi and 600 Mw Kishau project.
At a recent meeting of its Board, the management of the UJVNL sought Rs 8 crore for preparing DPRs of both the projects. While UJVNLwould spend Rs 5 crore on DPR of Kishau, Rs 3 crore has been earmarked for Lakhwar-Vyasi.
“We are trying to complete both the two key projects at the earliest, which would help in boost the power scenario of the state,” an official of the UJVNL told Business Standard. According to an estimate, though UJVNL is trying to complete both the projects in 3-4 years, experts say it would take at least 5 to 6 years for the completion.
The two projects — 480 Mw Pala Maneri and 381 Mw Bhaironghati on Bhagirathi river were in news last year after the state government decided to suspend them following a prolonged agitation by environmentalists led by GD Agrawal.
The multi-purpose Lakhwar-Vyasi project, which was allotted to UJVNL last year, is likely to produce 852 million units of power besides irrigating 40,000 hectare land through east Yamuna canal. Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi would be the beneficiary states. Besides, the project would help in generating 75 million units of extra power from the downstream projects like Kulhal, Dhalipur and Dhakrani during the lean period by virtue of its vast reservoir.
Another multi-purpose Kishau project is proposed on river Tons, a tributary of Yamuna, near here. The cost of the project is being estimated at Rs 10,000 crore and height of the dam will be 236 metres. Like Lakhwar-Vyasi, Kishau too would irrigate many neighboring states.