SJVNL bids for Arunachal projects

Unable to find more work in Himachal Pradesh's Sutlej basin, the Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL) is now trying to make inroads into other states and even neighbouring countries like Nepal and Bhutan.

"We have bid for two hydel projects of 3,000 Mw and 1,200 Mw in Arunachal Pradesh and are ready to pay the upfront money on our own as well," said HK Sharma, chairman, SJVNL.

"We are currently second in the race among a host of players for two large hydel projects in Nepal. The Bhutan government is also keen to avail of our services," Sharma said.

"We carried out an investigation report for a hydel project in Chattisgarh but since the cost of production is very high the project is unlikely to be built," Sharma said.

"We are also providing consultancy services for building tunnels for the Konkan railway in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

SJVNL built and now runs the country's largest hydel project, the 1,500 Mw Nathpa Jhakri project, in Himachal Pradesh. The company is now building the 412 Mw Rampur project.

Some months ago, the Himachal Pradesh government did not allot two hydel projects in the Sutlej basin that the company had been expecting to bag. The Centre has 75 per cent equity in SJVNL, while the rest of the stake is held by the Himachal government.

The Himachal government had been angry over the appointment of a major official from outside the state at the behest of the Central power ministry because it had insisted that the official should be from the state.