780 MW Jangi Thopan Powari Hydro power project to be executed by HP Power Corporation

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu states that a revision petition to be filed before the High Court to take over the 210 MW Luhri project state –I, 66 MW Dhaula Sidh and 382 MW Sunii projects

Pratibha Chauhan

Shimla, Updated At : 05:04 PM Sep 20, 2024 IST

The Jangi Thopan Powari project, located on the Satluj river in the tribal district of Kangra, has been in the news following the decision of Sukhu-led Congress regime to cancel the allotment of the project to SJVNL for failing to start work within the stipulated period.

Having cancelled the allotment of 780 MW Jangi Thopan Powari Hydro power project to Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL) last year, the much delayed project will now be executed by state government-owned HP Power Corporation Ltd.

The decision was taken by the cabinet at its meeting held here on Friday under the chairmanship of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. The Jangi Thopan Powari project, located on the Satluj river in the tribal district of Kangra, has been in the news following the decision of Sukhu-led Congress regime to cancel the allotment of the project to SJVNL for failing to start work within the stipulated period. The decision to cancel the project on November 18, 2023, was also taken by the state cabinet.

The project was allotted to SJVNL on November 24, 2018, and the MoU was signed on September 25, 2019. With SJVNL being a Government of India undertaking, a sum of Rs 93.24 crore was sanctioned by the Centre on May 20, 2021, for undertaking the pre-construction activities.

CM Sukhu has been very vociferous in advocating for Himachal Pradesh’s legitimate rights while accusing the previous BJP regime of failing to protect the rights of the state, especially in the signing of MoU’s for hydel power projects. It is only on Thursday that Sukhu reiterated his government’s resolve to protect Himachal Pradesh’s interest while stating that a revision petition will be filed before the High Court to take over the 210 MW Luhri project state –I, 66 MW Dhaula Sidh and 382 MW Sunii projects.

The chief minister has raised issue of the state’s interest being compromised by the previous regime while signing the MoU’s for these three projects. He has made it amply clear that if the executing agencies do not adhere to the terms and conditions, Himachal Pradesh government will take over them.