The Himachal Pradesh government has inked implementation agreements for 19 hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 278 MW. These projects are expected to attract an investment of around Rs 33.36 billion.
The projects include Soyal Dashal (9 MW), Khauli-II (6 MW), Gramang (9 MW), Umli (10 MW), Bharmour Stage-I (24 MW) and II (21 MW), Harsar Stage-II (22.5 MW) and III (19 MW), Tundah Stage-II (24 MW), Janglik (18 MW), Rupin Stage-II (15 MW), Dunali-I and II (17 MW), Jari (12 MW), Toral Kundli (18 MW), Tundan (15 MW), Kot Dogri (10 MW), Upper Kurmi (8 MW), Kalal Khol (11 MW), and Melan (9.6 MW). Furthermore, the state government has cancelled the allotments of 15 power projects as developers showed little interest in implementing them.
The Himachal Pradesh government plans to invite international bids for these projects to speed up their development. Additionally, to promote the energy sector, the government has amended its power policy and fixed a uniform royalty rate of 12 per cent for hydropower projects of up to 25 MW capacity for a period of 40 years.
