Dhami made a courtesy call on Water Power Minister CR Patil, requested for development and construction of 08 hydropower projects to accelerate the social and economic development of Uttarakhand

Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami made a courtesy call on Water Power Minister CR Patil in New Delhi on Tuesday. During this, he has requested for the development and construction of 08 hydropower projects to accelerate the social and economic development of Uttarakhand. These eight projects include a total of 7 projects of 647 MW capacity and one project of 114 MW.

The Chief Minister said that the Uttarakhand government is fully committed to the cleanliness, uninterrupted flow and environmental protection of Mother Ganga and all other rivers and is pursuing the goal of sustainable development by following the recommendations of experts.

The Chief Minister said that the 114 MW Sela Urthing Hydroelectric Project is in Pithoragarh on Dhauliganga. It is not a part of the Ganga basin within the boundaries of the state of Uttarakhand. There is no ban on projects in river basins other than Ganga and its tributaries in the state. Therefore, Sela Urthing Hydroelectric Project, which is not a part of Ganga basin, should be approved. The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to give necessary instructions to the concerned officials for this.

The Chief Minister also requested the Union Minister to approve 7 hydroelectric projects of total capacity of 647 MW in line with the recommendations given by the committee constituted under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary, Government of India and the request of the State Government.