After roads, it?s the turn of hydroelectricity projects to go the build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) way. For this, the Himachal Pradesh government is trying to rope in private sector companies to invest in the hill state.

Chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal told FE, ?The state government is planning to set up 50,000-mw hydel power projects over the next 15-20 years, which is 1.5 times the current capacity. The estimated amount to be spent on hydroelectricity projects would be Rs 3 lakh crore?.

Companies like Jaiprakash, Gammon and Nagarjuna Construction have taken up hydroelectric projects. While two such projects are operational, more are in the pipeline. As of now, only two large hydel projects have been developed by private sector players Jaiprakash Associates and LNJ Bhilwara Group.

Delhi-based Jaiprakash Associates has developed a

300-mw hydel project on the river Baspa in the hill state through its subsidiary Jaiprakash Hydel Power. Jaiprakash is engaged in two more hydel projects?a 400-mw project at Vishnu Prayag in Uttaranchal and a

1,000-mw project in Himachal Pradesh. LNJ Bhilwara Group has also developed a 82-mw hydel project in Himachal Pradesh at a cost of Rs 320 crore.

The state cabinet in its meeting held on January 17 granted approval to allot 13 hydroelectric projects to independent power producers (IPPs), having total capacity of 1,583.50 mw.

The 13 hydro electric projects will fetch Rs 316.7 crore as upfront premium to the state exchequer besides free power over and above the mandatory 12%, in consonance with the provisions of the new power policy of Himachal Pradesh.

The new hydro electric power projects include Riyoli and Dugali hydro power projects (420 mw), Saili (320 mw), Duggar (236 mw), Saach Khas (149 mw), Miyar and Khoksar (90 mw each), Tingret (81 mw), Mane Nadang (70 mw), Lara (60 mw), Kuling Lara (40 mw), Siyul (13 mw), Kilhi Bahal (7.5 mw) and Shalvi 7 mw.

The Cabinet okayed allotment of 27 self-identified hydroelectric projects with a total capacity of 81.9 mw in the private sector on BOOT basis.

It also permitted execution of 19 small hydroelectric projects, having capacity of 76.3 mw, under state sector by state government agency, HIMURJA.

The state cabinet meet also decided not to charge any upfront premium from the state domiciled IPPs for up to 5 mw in view of the new policy of encouraging entrepreneurship among the educated youth of the state in power sector. However, they will be required to provide free power to the state as per the Himachal power policy.