In the first step, three to five projects will be handed over to the private sector. There are 12 projects in the state that are more than 35 years old and four are lying closed. The total capacity of these projects is 500 Mw.
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister BC Khanduri. The move comes close on the heels of the government's decision last month to suspend the construction of two major hydel projects