MeraPahad Community Of Uttarakhand Lovers

NHPC and UJVNL in fray for Lakhwar Vyasi project

It is reported that, after the centre declared 420 MW Lakhwar Vyasi as national project, National Hydro Power Corporation and Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited are the 2 major contenders in the race to clinch the final deal.

Centre has so far remained non committal regarding the allotment of the project, which is hanging due to paucity of funds for the last 20 years. An investment of nearly INR 3,000 to INR 4,000 crore is proposed in the project.

Sensing that the NHPC was preparing the revised detailed project report of the project, UJVNL has intensified efforts for the allotment. The allotment process for the Lakhwad Vyasi, which will benefit several northern states like Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, got hotter after centre declared it as a national project and promised to bear 90 per cent of its cost following techno economic appraisal of the DPR and investment clearance by the Planning Commission.

After Uttarakhand came into being in 2000, the state government handed over the responsibility of preparing the revised DPR of the multipurpose project, being built on the river Yamuna, to NHPC. Once the project is completed, it would likely produce 927 million units of power besides irrigating 40,000 hectares of land through east Yamuna canal.

The construction of the project initially started in 1979 by the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department. But due to paucity of funds, the project could not see the light of the day. There is going to be 200 meter high arch gravity concrete dam, underground power house with 2.7 kilometer long headrace tunnels

Uttarakhand to explore gas-based projects
 
Shishir Prashant / New Delhi/ Dehra Dun April 28, 2008
 
 
 
The Uttarakhand government plans to tap alternative sources of energy, particularly the gas-based sector, to meet the growing power demand.
 

For this purpose, the government has already roped in Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) to jointly examine various project opportunities for natural gas and undertake extension of the National Gas Grid to Uttarakhand.

A possible pact with other private players like Reliance Industries is also being explored, official sources said.

After the declaration of state's new hill industrial policy this year, power demand in the state, which is around 20 to 22 million units, is likely to increase by 17 to 20 percent annually as industries continue to set up new units in the state.

The State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (SIDCUL), which has developed several modern industrial estates, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GAIL to give a fillip to gas-based energy projects. And now, a feasibility report is being prepared on the gas-based projects.

An assessment exercise for natural gas and allied products is also being conducted in the state. It will also promote usage of gas like Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) and Piped Natural Gas (PNG) in the state.

GAIL's existing HBJ (Hazira-Bijaipur-Jagdishpur) trunk pipeline networks in Uttar Pradesh and its nearest tapping point is at Bareilly from where clean fuel could be made available to Uttarakhand via two routes, sources said.

The first route will lay a pipeline network to Rudrapur, Ramnagar and Haldwani from Bareilly. The other route would be an extension of gas pipeline from Dadri, sources added.
 

CENTRAL ASSISTANCE UNDER SGSY TO FOUR STATES
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 17:18 IST 
The Ministry of Rural Development has granted Rs. 4.1775 crore to the State Governments of Nagaland (Rs. 52.28 lakh), Uttarakhand State (Rs.3.1905 crore), Meghalaya (Rs.13.09 lakh), Pondicherry (Rs.33.33 lakh) as release of Part Payment of first installment of Central Share for implementation of Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) during the current financial year (2008-09) under the schemes.

Rs. 52.28 lakh have been granted to 05 District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) of Nagaland namely- Kohima (Rs.12.03 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 72.18 lakh-1st installment due Rs.36.08 lakh}), Wokha [Rs. 8.87 lakh{ Central Allocation Rs.53.23 lakh-1st installment due Rs.26.62 lakh}), Zunheota [Rs. 15.91 lakh { Central Allocation Rs.95.45 lakh-1st installment due Rs.47.72 lakh}], Kiphire (Rs.7.09 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.42.53 lakh-1st installment due Rs.21.26 lakh}] ), Peren (Rs. 8.38 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.50.29 lakh-1st installment due Rs.25.15 lakh}] for the current financial year.

13 DRDAs of Uttrakhand namely- Almora (Rs.35.29 lakh {Central Allocation Rs. 211.76 lakh-1st installment due Rs.105.88 lakh}), Bageshwar (Rs.13.30 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.79.78 lakh- 1st instalment due Rs.39.89 lakh}), Chamoli (Rs.25.13 lakh { Central Allocation Rs.150.76 lakh-1st installment due Rs.75.38 lakh}, Champawat (Rs. 9.30 lakh ( Central Allocation Rs.55.82 lakh-1st instalment due Rs.27.91 lakh}), Dehradun (Rs.26.17 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.157.04 lakh-1st instalment due Rs.78.52 lakh}, Haridwar (Rs.19.09 lakh{Central Allocation Rs.114.55 lakh- 1st instalment due Rs. 50.82 lakh}), Pauri Garhwal (Rs.27.41 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.164.43 lakh-1st installment due Rs.82.22 lakh}), Pithoragarh (Rs. 21.11 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.126.67 lakh-1st instalment due Rs.63.34 lakh}), Rudraprayag (Rs.13.47 lakh { Central Allocation Rs.80.81 lakh-1st instalment due Rs.40.40 lakh}), Tehri Garhwal (Rs.50.02 lakh{Central Allocation Rs.300.11 lakh- 1st instalment due Rs. 150.05 lakh}), Udham Singh Nagar (Rs.33.40 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.200.39 lakh-1st installment due Rs.100.20 lakh}, Uttar Kashi (Rs. 28.42 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.170.49 lakh-1st instalment due Rs.85.25 lakh}) have been allocated Rs. 319.05 crore have been allocated for the current financial year.

In the case of Meghalaya the– RI-BOI (Nongpoh) DRDAs have been given an allocation of Rs. 13.09 lakh { Central Allocation Rs. 78.51 lakh-1st installment due Rs.39.26 lakh}) under this head during the current financial year.

The Pondicherry DRDA in the Union Territory of Pondicherry has received Rs.33.33 lakh {Central Allocation Rs.200 lakh -1st installment due Rs.100 lakh)} for the implementation of SGSY during the current year 2008-09.

The release of funds is subject to the audit by Internal Audit of the Ministry of Rural Development. The amount should be utilized on the programme as per approved guidelines of SGSY. The funding pattern will be 75:25 by the Centre and State. The State Government should release its share within one within one month of the fate of this sanction order.

The accounts of all guarantee Institutions or Organizations shall be open to inspection by the sanctioning authority and audit both by the comptroller and Auditor General of India under the provision of CAG (DPC) Act 1971 and internal audit by the Principal Accounts Office of the Ministry or Department, whenever the Institution or organization is called upon to do so and a provision to this effect should invariably be incorporated in all orders sanctioning grants-in-aid.

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SMK/ST 

Uttarakhand can attract investments worth Rs 50,000 cr by 2012
Mon, May 12 07:18 PM

Dehra Dun, May 12 (PTI) Industry body Assocham today recommended a slew of measures to the Uttarakhand government, saying the state has potential to attract investments worth Rs 50,000 crore by 2012. The chamber has identified hyro and solar power, tourism, IT, technical institutions, biotechnology, handcrafts and floriculture as the major areas for attracting investment with job opportunities for 2 lakh persons, Assocham President V N Dhoot said, while releasing paper 'A Vision Paper on Uttarakhand: Ideal Destination for Investment' detailing 15 recommendations.

In its recommendations, Assocham asked the government to encourage setting up of SEZs and agri economic zones (AEZs). The state government should set up hydro power projects especially mini and captive power plants and windmills, it said.

On the tourism sector, it suggested the government to tie up with India Inc for putting up smaller hotels, motels, fast food centers etc. The state has enormous scope for adventure as well as religious tourism, it pointed out.

The government should also provide suitable environment for IT industry, it said. In the field of auto components and engineering goods, IT and tourism, the state has attracted over Rs 2 billion FDIs till 2005 and could exceed substantially to over Rs 10 billion by the end of the 11th five year plan in 2012, Assocham said.

It also asked the government to strengthen sectors like herbal and medicinal, film shooting destination, biotechnology, handicrafts, floriculture, horticulture, tea and sports. PTI.