Union Minister Reviews Uttarakhand's Power and Urban Development Progress

Union Minister Manohar Lal and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami discuss progress in urban development schemes and power sector. Key topics included hydro sector projects, RDSS progress, and power sector reforms. Central government reaffirms support for state's development in these sectors.

Union Minister for Power and Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, reviewed the urban development schemes and the power sector scenario in Uttarakhand, a press release announced on Monday. The meeting, attended by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, discussed the progress of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), hydro sector projects, power sector reforms, and measures to enhance living standards through improved electricity services.

The Union Minister urged the state to expedite the implementation of RDSS projects, reduce aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses to below 10 percent, and bridge the gap between supply costs and revenue to alleviate financial strain on the DISCOM and the state. He noted significant developments regarding upcoming hydro-power projects, including the potential commissioning of 1,000 MW at the Tehri Pumped Storage Project by December 2024, with an initial 250 MW expected by August 2024.

He also highlighted other projects under construction, such as Vishnugad Pipalkoti, Tapovan Vishnugad, and Lakhwar MPP, emphasizing the central government's support through initiatives like hydropower purchase obligations and tariff rationalization measures. The meeting concluded with assurances from the Union Minister regarding continued central support for Uttarakhand's development in the power and urban sectors, according to the press release.

The central government aims to install 500 GW of power from non-fossil fuel sources, such as solar and wind, by 2030, with hydroelectric projects including Pump Storage Projects (PSP) playing a vital role. India has a hydro power potential of 133 GW, of which 42 GW (32 percent) has been developed. Similarly, Uttarakhand has a potential of 14.5 GW, with 4 GW developed and 5.6 GW under development. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)