Prime Minister Narendra Modi symbolically lay the foundation stones on Monday for three hydroelectric power projects in Himachal Pradesh with a combined capacity of 658 MW and an estimated investment of Rs 5,564 crore. Modi virtually placed the foundation stones for the 210 MW Luhri Stage-1 project in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla and Kullu districts, as well as the 66 MW Dhaulasidh project in the state’s Hamirpur and Kangra districts, according to an SJVN statement.
Modi also inaugurated the 382 MW Sunni Dam project in Shimla and Mandi districts. SJVN is implementing these projects on a build-own-operate-maintain (BOOM) basis. On the Satluj river, the Luhri-1 and Sunni Dam projects are located, while the Dhaulasidh project is located on the Beas River. According to Nand Lal Sharma, Chairman and Managing Director of SJVN, the
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs authorized the 210 MW Luhri-1 Hydroelectric Project in November 2020 at a cost of Rs 1,810 crore.
By January 2026, the project is projected to be completed. When completed, it will generate 758.20 million kilowatt-hours of power per year. Additionally, the project has received fiscal support of Rs 66 crore. He stated that the Luhri -1 Project will create 20 lakh man-days of employment and would provide Himachal Pradesh with about Rs 1,140 crore in free electricity throughout the project’s 40-year life.
Sharma claimed that the government authorized the project’s cost of Rs 687.97 crore and also provided financial support of Rs 21.6 crore. The project is scheduled to wrap up in November 2025. When completed, this project will generate an additional 304 million units of electricity per year. The project will result in the creation of 8 lakh man-days of employment, while Himachal Pradesh would benefit from the project’s free power worth Rs 461 crore.
Sharma said that the anticipated cost of the 382 MW Sunni Dam project is Rs 2,614.51 crore, with the facility expected to generate 1,382 million units of energy annually upon completion. This project will aid the environment by removing 11 lakh Tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, while also providing Himachal Pradesh with around Rs 2,587 crore in free power.
According to Sharma, the three projects would cost a total of Rs 5,113 crore and will add around 2,444 million units of energy producing capacity to the nation’s capacity per year. Apart from giving 100 units of free power per month for ten years to Project Affected Families, when completed, these Projects will herald in a period of regional socioeconomic development and prosperity for future generations.
Published By:Â Bhavya Dedhia
