Himachal sets up another hydel unit

The Himachal Pradesh government has set up a second hydro-electric power corporation to harness the potential in the Yamuna basin.

According to an official spokesman, the new Pabbar Valley Hydro-electric Project (PVHP) will be a subsidiary of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB). The Pabbar river is a tributary of the Yamuna.

The spokesman said, "A potential of 500 MW in the Yamuna basin has been identified, of which so far only 79 MW has been tapped."

"Swed Power, a Swedish power company, has prepared the feasibility report of the 86-MW Sawra Kudu project, which will cost around Rs 400 crore," said R L Justa, convener of the Himachal Professionals Forum.

This is the second subsidiary of the state electricity board. The government has set up the State Jal Vidyut Vikas Nigam (SJVNL), which is building six hydro projects in the Sutlej basin, including the 1,500-MW project that was completed in May this year.

The Himachal Pradesh government has already approved the agreement on the 400-MW Rampur hydro-electric project to be executed by the state government and Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd.

The state government will have a 30 per cent equity in the project, which is expected to cost Rs 2,500 crore.