After reaching an agreement with Himachal Pradesh, the Uttarakhand government is now focusing on 600-Mw multi-purpose Kishau hydel project, which is likely to be given to Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (UJVNL) for implementation despite intense lobbying by the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd (THDCL).
THDCL, which is developing mega 2,400-Mw Tehri dam, has evinced keen interest to build the Kishau hydel project, which is hanging fire for the past two decades.
“As of now, there is an understanding that the Kishau project should be given to UJVNL,” said a top government official.
The comments came after Uttarakhand reached an agreement with Himachal Pradesh to share the cost on 50-50 equity basis of the power component of the project. This agreement came following a visit of Chief Minister R P Nishank to Shimla recently.
The cost of the irrigation component of the project would be shared by the beneficiary states like Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, the official added.
For the past two years, THDCL is constantly in touch with top state government officials to bag the implementation contract of the project. It is also working on the detailed project report (DPR) of the project.
The Kishau project is proposed on the river Tons, a tributary of Yamuna, near here. The cost of project is being estimated at Rs 10,000 crore and height of the dam will be 236 mt.
The project would provide irrigation water to nearly five basin states, which include Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Delhi will get the maximum benefit since it would also get the drinking water from it.
The official here also claimed that the dam would also help in regulating the water supply to all the projects, which are on the downstream of the river.
Significantly, the state government last year handed over the 420-Mw Lakhwar Vyasi hydel project to UJVNL despite strong opposition by the Centre which wanted it to be given to NHPC.
The state government wants to compensate UJVNL with new projects after it suspended two key projects — 480-Mw Pala Maneri and 381-Mw Bharionghati on the river Bhagirathi following opposition by social activists on environmental grounds.
