Dehradun: Uttarakhand has underlined the need for special financial help from the centre for setting up hydropower projects on the pattern of the North-eastern states. The state’s plea is that the cost of setting up proposed hydropower projects are increasing in the state due different reasons.
At the recent conference of power ministers of states/UTs in New Delhi, Uttarakhand’s Forest minister Subodh Uniyal outlined the state’s energy needs before the centre for setting up hydropower projects. Uniyal was nominated to attend the meeting by the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami who also holds the portfolio of power minister.
Emphasis on storage of solar energy to meet the peak demands of power during non-solar hours
The minister Uniyal gave emphasis on the storage of solar energy to meet the peak demands during non-solar hours. He pleaded that the state government wants to supply power at a cheaper rate and storage of solar energy is a good option. He said the state will require the battery energy storage system to store the solar energy. Uttarakhand government sought financial help from the centre to develop a battery energy storage system in the state.
Uttarakhand urged to compensate the financial gap due to delayed proposed hydropower projects
He also mentioned that several proposed hydropower projects on the river Ganga and its tributaries, remain pending due to different reasons. Meanwhile, the cost of setting up these proposed hydropower projects continue to increase in the state. The Uttarakhand government urged the centre to compensate for the financial gap that will increase in setting up such proposed hydropower projects.
Uttrakhand favours “land in exchange of land” for the farmers affected by setting up transmission towers
The minister Uniyal also suggested an idea of “land in exchange of land” for all those who are affected by setting up transmission towers in the state. He added the farmers of the state do not possess enough land. If the farmers get land in exchange for their land, it will help them continue their livelihood.
He also suggested the centre prefer forest land for installing towers and laying power lines. According to him, there would be no requirement of land acquisition in such cases.
