Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday paid a courtesy call on Water Power Minister Shri CR Patil in New Delhi.

Mahesh Dhoundiyal - Delhi

During this, a request has been made for the development and construction of 08 hydropower projects to accelerate the social and economic development of Uttarakhand. These eight projects include a total of 7 projects of 647 MW capacity and one project of 114 MW.

The Chief Minister said that the Uttarakhand government is fully committed to the cleanliness, uninterrupted flow and environmental protection of Mother Ganga and all other rivers and is pursuing the goal of sustainable development by following the recommendations of experts.

The Chief Minister said that the 114 MW Sela Urthing Hydroelectric Project is in Pithoragarh on Dhauliganga. It is not a part of the Ganga basin within the boundaries of the state of Uttarakhand. There is no ban on projects on other river valleys in the state other than Ganga and its tributaries. Therefore, Sela Urthing Hydroelectric Project, which is not a part of Ganga Basin, should be approved. The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to give necessary instructions to the concerned officials for this.

The Chief Minister also requested the Union Minister to approve 7 hydroelectric projects of total capacity of 647 MW in line with the recommendations given by the committee constituted under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary, Government of India and the request of the State Government.