Sukhu to PM: Restore Shanan to HP, aid green energy goal

Kullu: Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday raised power-related issues with the central govt during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi and requested him to help the state move to 100% green energy.
The CM asked for long-pending arrears of HP’s share from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and requested the PM to restore Shanan Project’s rights and assets to the state because the lease had expired.They discussed royalty-free power projects under the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Sukhu looked for a favourable decision.

Sukhu highlighted the state’s goal of sustaining on green energy entirely. He said that switching to electric buses was one of the green initiative for which he had sought approval for NABARD’s Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) loan. He brought up the Sutlej basin’s potential for generating 1,000 megawatts of hybrid solar and wind energy in Spiti and transmitting it down through a green corridor. He sought the PM’s support for a mega solar power project in Spiti.
He also told the PM about the state’s tourism promotion plans and requested the Centre to bear half the cost of acquiring land for the Kangra airport and issue a special grant for the facility’s expansion. He proposed a tourism special economic zone (SEZ) to create jobs and spur economic development. Sukhu sought a big financial assistance to recover from the damage that he state had taken in the previous monsoon.