Chief Minister, laid stress upon the development of renewable sources of energy in solar, thermal and wind sector

Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, laid stress upon the development of renewable sources of energy in solar, thermal and wind sector. He was addressing the Third Lecture of the Annual Lecture Series organised by Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited, in association with Forum of Hydro Power Producers in Sutlej Basin, at Peterhoff, here today.

Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh had initiated effective measures towards exploitation of entire identified hydel potential in State, Joint and Private sector to generate of clean energy. He said that there was vast scope for solar and wind energy generation as alternate source of energy, in addition to thermal power generation, to supplement the power requirements of the State. He said that the state had been able to harness only 6,500 MW of hydel power so far and had targeted 12,000MW by year 2012. He said that out of the total identified potential of over 23,000MW, HP Power Corporation Limited had been allotted projects worth 3025 MW. He said that efforts were afoot to exploit the entire hydel potential expeditiously to meet the requirement not only of the State but entire northern region. He expressed his concern with regard to quality power supply to the consumers which include meet proper frequency of power, minimum duration of interruption, proper voltage, reduced transformer failure rate, reduction in waiting time for restoration of supply, replacement of defective equipments at the earliest and new connections to the consumers immediately.

Prof. Dhumal said that transmission system required to be strengthened and timely investments made with efficient and co-ordinated action to develop a robust and integrated power system for the State. He said that quality power supply with least transmission and distribution losses were the necessity of the hour. He said that the demand for electricity was increasing tremendously and to meet the demand expeditious harnessing of the available sources of energy like hydro, solar, wind and bio mass etc. was emerging as necessity. He said that the spirit of competitiveness was also affecting the power sector hence the power producers needed to rise to the call. He said that India was poised to emerge a 'World Leader' in 21st Century and all such endeavours would be supplementing the other initiatives to achieve the objective. He emphasised the need to create mass awareness about the misuse of the energy by consumers, by sensitizing them about the importance of energy in modern life and every unit saved, would be gainfully utilised for other important activities. He underlined the need for self sustainable system to meet the increasing demand of power.

Chief Minister congratulated the HP Power Corporation Limited Management for its spectacular achievements in a short span of three years, when it was formed. He said that the State Government was giving preference to the Corporation in allotment of projects with other independent power producers. He hoped that the Corporation would be growing at a rapid pace and complete its projects within the scheduled time frame. He also welcomed the Key Note speaker former Chairman of Central Electricity Authority, Shri H.L.Bajaj to the State and hoped that the power engineers must have gained from the experience of an eminent power engineering authority of the country. He thanked Shri H.L.Bajaj for his participation in the Lecture series organised by the HP Power Corporation Limited and the presentation given by him over the national scenario of power sector.



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Shri H.L.Bajaj, former Chairman, Central Electricity Authority and Ex-Officio secretary, Government of India, was the key note speaker on the occasion who delved upon the National power scenario of the country. He congratulated the power engineers of the state for upholding their credibility as a top professional in the power sector. He also appreciated the initiative of the State Government for distributing free CFL bulbs to the domestic consumers to save power. He said that power sector had vast potential to generate employment to the skilled and unskilled workers which needed to be exploited with ecological safeguards. He focussed upon the power sector reforms which included power for all by the year 2012 alongwith affordability by restructuring the organisations to achieve commercial viability. He said that safeguarding the interests of both the customers and investors, market free from influence, judicious reviews of the decisions, competitions and transparency were the basic elements for successful power market and its regulation.

Shri Tarun Kapoor, Managing Director, HP Power Corporation Limited, welcomed the Chief Minister and other participants and thanked for their participation in the raising day celebration of the Corporation. Giving a detailed presentation on the functioning of the organisation, he said that the Corporation was executing projects aggregating to 3,025 MW in addition to joint venture Thermal Project of 500MW under joint venture in Raniganj, West Bengal. He said that two sites for grid connected Solar Power Development had also been identified to take on as pilot projects in addition to exploring possibilities of wind energy. He said that Corporation environment safeguards policy was in consonance with the National and State policies.

Shri C.M.Walia, Secretary General, Forum of Hydro Power Producers in Sutlej Basin, introduced the key speaker to the audience.

Shri B.S.Negi, Director, HP Power Corporation Limited, proposed vote of thanks.

Shri Kripal Parmar, former MP, Smt. Rajwant Sandhu, Chief Secretary, Shri Subhash Negi, CMD, HP State Electricity Board Limited, other prominent power engineers and senior officers, delegates from different power producing companies were present on the occasion.

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