With Uttarakhand facing acute power shortage, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on Thursday said efforts are on to increase the power production in the state but gave no timeframe in this regard.
Amid reports that the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) was forced to buy power from open market, Bahuguna said the government was awaiting the B K Chaturvedi committee’s report on the hydel power projects in the hill state. The UPCL has been forced to undertake rostering of 4- 5 hours on daily basis in the state that badly affects industrial production also. Dehradun and some other towns have been spared from power cuts.
When asked about umpteen power cuts in the state, Bahuguna said the power generation has fallen during this winter season considerably. “Efforts are being put to increase the power production,” he said interacting with a group of media persons here.
Bahuguna said efforts are also being put to establish gas based energy projects in the State, he said.
To a question, he said that respecting the sentiments of statehood activists, the state government was committed to establish Vidhan Sabha building at Gairsain region in Chamoli district. He said that the establishment of Vidhan Sabha building and other infrastructure facilities would help in addressing public problems of the hilly region.
The Chief Minister said that the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi wanted to attend the program at Gairsain, however owing to some inevitable reason her program has been deferred.
He said Sonia Gandhi too wanted that comprehensive development takes place in difficult and hilly terrains of Uttarakhand with Gairsain as core centre. He said that on 14 January the foundation stone laying ceremony of Vidhan Sabha would take place at Gairsain.
