Latest news with #PowerDepartment
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Himachal CM gives directions for notices against developers over delay in hydropower projects
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed the Energy department to issue a cancellation notice to non-serious hydro power developers, whose projects have remained stalled for many years. He presided over a high-level meeting of the Power Department on Saturday. He said that undue delays in project execution are causing significant losses to the state exchequer, according to a release. Hydropower is the mainstay of the State's economy, and the state government is committed to ensuring that the benefits reach the people of the State. Sukhu said that the present state government is committed to safeguarding the interests of the state's people across multiple platforms and forums. In a major decision, the State Government has decided to take back 382 MW of the Sunni, 210 MW of the Luhri Stage-I, and 66 MW of the Dhaulasidh projects previously allotted to SJVNL. He said that the state government will not advance on upcoming projects like Kishau and Renuka Dam unless the neighbouring states provide the settlement of the long-standing concrete assurances pending the Bhakra Beas Management Board arrears. During the meeting, the Chief Minister was informed that BBMB has identified 4403 MW of power capacity on Bhakra Dam and 8700 MW capacity on Kol Dam for establishing pump storage projects. He directed the department to take the lead in this direction and move forward immediately so that the people of the State reap maximum benefits from these projects. Sukhu instructed the HPSEBL to commission the Kaza solar power project by August 2025 and expedite the one MW solar power project with battery backup at Dhanwas in the remote Pangi valley of Chamba district. This project is expected to be completed by December 2025 and will guarantee uninterrupted power supply to the 19 gram panchayats of the valley even during heavy snowfall. The Chief Minister also reviewed the progress of the 'Green Panchayat scheme' and directed the speeding up of the project. He also took stock of the under-construction 450 MW Shong Tong Hydro Power Project and asked the Power Corporation to complete it within the stipulated time period. Furthermore, it was also decided that the HPSEBL will establish five Substations with a 66 KV capacity, while the HPPTCL will set up 10 Substations with capacities of 132 KV and 220 KV in accordance with the directions of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The Hindu
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Himachal CM Sukhu directs firm action against developers for undue delay in hydropower projects
Taking a firm stance, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday (June 21, 2025) directed the State's Power Department to issue cancellation notice to non-serious hydro-power developers, whose projects have been at a standstill for years. Presiding over a high level meeting of the power department on Saturday, the Chief Minister asserted that undue delay in the project execution are causing significant losses to the State exchequer. 'Hydro power is the mainstay in the State's economy and the state government is committed to ensuring that the benefits reach to the people of the State. The government is committed to safeguard the interests of the people of the State across multiple platforms and forums,' he said. Mr. Sukhu also reiterated that the State government will not move ahead on the upcoming projects like Kishau and Renuka Dam unless the neighbouring States provide to settle the long concrete assurances pending arrears of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). The Chief Minister instructed the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) to complete the commissioning of Kaza solar power project by August, 2025 and to expedite the one MW solar power project with battery backup at Dhanwas in the remote Pangi valley of Chamba district. This project is expected to be completed by December, 2025 which is expected to guarantee uninterrupted power supply to the valley even during heavy snowfall. Mr. Sukhu also reviewed the progress of the 'Green Panchayat scheme' and directed to speed up the projects during the meeting, said an official statement.
Hindustan Times
05-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
59 tourists airlifted from north Sikkim as rescue ops resume
Gangtok, Fifty-nine tourists were brought back to Gangtok from the rain-ravaged north Sikkim on Thursday morning as the rescue operations resumed after the weather cleared, officials said. They were among the 109 tourists stranded in north Sikkim's Lachung for nearly a week. Two MI-17V5 helicopters left for Chaten in north Sikkim from Pakyong airport near state capital Gangtok in the early morning after the weather cleared. While 39 tourists returned on one copter, 20 returned on another, officials said. Among those rescued were two foreigners, they said. Sikkim Nationalised Transport has deployed buses to help these rescued tourists reach Siliguri in West Bengal. An additional helicopter has been kept on standby at Pakyong airport for those who want to travel to Bagdogra near Siliguri by air. The two helicopters flew to Chaten with personnel from the NDRF and Power Department, and engineers of Airtel, who would work in the region for restoring essential services, they said. These 109 tourists were brought to Chaten for air evacuation, they added. The tourists were accommodated in hotels and at the Chaten military camp, an officer said. Helicopter sorties from the Pakyong airport were suspended on Wednesday due to bad weather in north Sikkim, delaying evacuations. On Sunday, three Army personnel were killed and six soldiers went missing after landslides hit a military camp at Chaten. Several others were also injured. The search operations for the six missing personnel have been hampered by bad weather conditions, unstable ground, and the challenging high-altitude terrain, an official said. The ongoing relief operations in north Sikkim faced a critical setback after two key bridges over the Taran Chu river, situated between Munshithang and Chaten, were washed away by incessant rains, severing motorable access to Chaten from Lachen. Three days ago, 1,678 tourists were rescued from Lachung and Chungthang, while 33 others, including two US nationals, were successfully airlifted before the sorties were suspended on Wednesday.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- The Hindu
Officials in Jammu review plan to enhance facilities for Amarnath Yatra
Authorities in Jammu have reviewed a development plan to enhance civic amenities for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, officials said on Tuesday (May 6, 2025). The review focused on improving infrastructure and sanitation to ensure a smooth experience for thousands of devotees expected to participate in the annual pilgrimage to the revered 3,880-metre-high Amarnath cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas, they said. The 38-day yatra is scheduled to commence on July 3 from the twin routes, the traditional 48-km Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the 14-km shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The first batch of pilgrims will leave the Jammu base camp on July 2. Divisional Commissioner of Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, chaired a meeting to review the development plan for augmentation of civic amenities and renovation work for the yatra en route Jammu division, an official spokesperson said. He said the meeting, attended by senior officers of various departments in Jammu on Monday (May 5), discussed the execution of the identified works according to the approved work plan. The Divisional Commissioner directed the district administrations and concerned heads of departments to float tenders for the work at the earliest, the spokesperson said. He said the district-wise work approved included repair, renovation and augmentation of basic amenities such as power, water, and toilet facilities at the various lodgement centres in the districts en route the annual holy pilgrimage from Kathua to Banihal in Ramban district. The senior official directed the Power Department to start work to provide electricity supply to the lodgement centres and Yatra camps at Lakhanpur Kathua, Bhagwati Nagar Jammu and in Chanderkote Ramban and illumination work. He asked the Jammu Municipal Corporation and the Deputy Commissioner to start the process for tenders of works at the yatra camp in Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu. The Health Department was asked to stock medical supplies and keep ambulances ready at yatra camps and lodgement centres, the spokesperson said. He said the Public Works Department was asked to look after the installation of waterproof hangers and temporary sheds at the yatra camp in Bhagwati Nagar. The Deputy Commissioners of Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Reasi, Udhampur and Ramban were asked to monitor the progress of work for its quality execution and timely completion, the spokesperson said.
