The power sector appears a weak link in the path of development in Uttarakhand.
With the Centre deciding to stop two major hydel projects in the Bhagirathi valley, the government finds it tough to improve the power scenario, although energy demand especially from industry, had grown massively since 2005. The power demand is growing by 15 per cent every year, with the state resorting to heavy power cuts that had impacted industries badly.
Top state government officials admitted the hydropower sector had not shown desired results even if the two projects — 480 Mw Pala Maneri and 381 Mw Bhaironghati — which were stopped on environmental grounds, are not taken into account. Since the formation of Uttarakhand in 2000, the state-run Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJNVL) had been able to commission only one big hydel project – 304 Mw Maneribhali-II that too with the help of irrigation department. On the flip side, UJVNL had commissioned a couple of small hydel projects with a capacity of only 20 Mw.
On the other hand, the officials also admitted the state will not be able to see any new big government power project coming up in the next four to five years simply because the environmental and other clearances take time.
However, there are two-three hydel projects which are likely to be commissioned by 2012 in the private sector. But the state will get only 12 per cent free power from them which would not fulfil its requirements.
Besides, Power Secretary Utpal Kumar Singh said the state will be able to commission 8 hydel projects with a capacity of 100 Mw in the next 2-3 years. These are the projects being aided by Asian Development Bank (ADB) and NABARD and constructed by UJVNL.