Times of India: Shimla: Friday,
April 26, 2013.
In his budget
speech on March 14, chief minister Virbhadra Singh had expressed
dissatisfaction over the progress made in harnessing hydro power potential of
the state. Now, an RTI query has revealed that delay in obtaining NOCs and
other clearances from various departments and objections from locals, from time
to time, has left 276 small hydro projects hanging fire.
In the RTI
information, HIMURJA has revealed that many proposals for small hydro electric
projects in Himachal Pradesh are languishing in files. Although, there is a
provision of single window clearance for projects of 5 MW and below, these 276
projects, of the total 433, have surpassed the time period allowed, while the
remaining 157 projects, though pending, are still within the time period, said
RTI activist Devashish Bhattacharya.
It means, if
average of 3 MW of each project is taken into account, then a total of 1,299 MW
power potential remains trapped in red tape, he said.
As per rules,
projects of 5 MW or below are entitled for single window clearance, yet these
are pending with different departments for NOCs and clearences, according to
information received from director of HIMURJA.
Bhattacharya
said that the reason for delay was mentioned as "Delay in obtaining
NOCs/clearances from various departments and objections from locals, from time
to time.'
"It is a
matter of concern that despite the provision of single window clearance for
below-5 MW projects, NOCs and clearances are pending with various departments.
It is not understood why the government is not ensuring speedy clearances, when
it is in the larger interests of the state," he added.
Himachal
Pradesh has revised its hydro power potential to 27,436 MW while 8,375 MW hydro
power has been harnessed till date.
The delay in
granting approval in the past has already caused huge loss of industrial
investment to state. During the budget session of the state assembly,
industries minister Mukesh Agnihotri had said that when the special industrial
package was granted to Himachal Pradesh, it was estimated that the state would
attract investment of around Rs 48,000 crore. But in the last ten years,
investment of only 13,000 crore has materialised. "When we checked the
reasons, it came out that delayed clearances proved the biggest hurdle and
ultimately discouraged investment," he said.
Agnihotri had
said that when the issue will be referred to single window committee headed by
chief minister, a final clearance would be accorded after which no further
clearance would be required. To attract investments, the state government will
proactively and aggressively follow the approach of "industry by
invitation" programmes in other states so as to send a message that
Himachal Pradesh is now an investor-friendly state, he said.
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