Lakhwar hydel project to get clearance shortly

The Centre will grant its clearance to 300-MW Lakhwar hydropower project in Uttarakhand soon. It has agreed to provide financial assistance for completion of the project, official sources said on Friday.

A meeting was held in New Delhi on Thursday to discuss the status of hydropower projects in the state and Himachal Pradesh. Principal secretary to Prime Minister Pulak Chatterjee directed the officials concerned to grant all necessary clearances for Lakhwar project — to be constructed on the river Yamuna.

He added that Centre will also provide financial assistance to Uttarakhand for completion of the project. The meeting was attended by HP chief secretary Sudripta Roy, Uttarakhand chief secretary Alok Kumar Jain and secretary of power S S Sandhu.

The officials urged the Centre to restart the stalled power projects in Uttarakhand. Jain said the growing difference between demand and supply of power had made it difficult for the state government to provide uninterrupted electricity, so the permission should be granted to restart construction of several stalled power projects, the source added.

The meeting also discussed the 660-MW Kisau hydropower project — a joint venture between Uttarakhand and HP. The project will also provide drinking water and irrigation facilities to Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi.

PTI