At a time when the state-run Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL), with an installed capacity of 1305 Mw, is facing stinging criticism for going slow in the hydropower sector, the company is desperate to make a new beginning by adding another 1,500-1,600 Mw in the next four to five years.
The company’s officials said the DPRs of 120 Mw Vyasi, multi-purpose 600 Mw Kishau, and 300 Mw Lakhwar which are the some of the big projects, have already been prepared and submitted. Other projects include 100 Mw Nandprayagy Langasu, 120 Mw Tamaklata and 300 Mw Bawala Nandprayag which are also in the pipeline.
Speaking to Business Standard, UJVNL Managing Director R P Thaplial, who retired today, said the company is facing a shortage of over 600-700 employees. NHPC Executive Director G D Patel, this evening took over as the new managing director.
However, Thaplial said he was satisfied with the performance of the company but conceded that much more could have been achieved with the support of the government.
“We could have definitely achieved much, much more during the past 10 years with the support of the state government,” said Thaplial replying to the growing criticism over the final closure of the UJVNL’s two key hydel projects – 480 mw Pala Maneri and 381 Mw Bhaironghati by the National Ganga River Basin Authority recently.
Significantly, it was the BJP government which had recommended the closure of these projects on religious and environmental grounds.
But he said the UJVNL could not achieve the desired results also due to the shortage of engineers and other employees in the company. However, he said the process is on to recruit 87 assistant engineers and 74 junior engineers.
When the UJVNL was set up in 2001, its installed capacity was 980 Mw but since its inception the company has added another 325 Mw which include 305 Mw Maneri Bhali phase-II.
