Hectare of forest land will be transferred to HPPCL

Market. The last hurdle for the construction of the proposed 191 MW capacity Thana Palaun Hydroelectric Project in Sadar Assembly constituency of Mandi district, which was roaming in the files for 14 years, has now been removed. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forest has given permission to transfer 406.79 hectares of forest land of Mandi and Jogindernagar forest division in the name of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation HPPCL.

However, this first phase has been given in-principle approval by the Ministry, after which the main obstacle coming in the way of making this scheme has been removed. After receiving this approval, there is an atmosphere of happiness among the people of Sadar Assembly constituency. The scheme is to be constructed on the Beas river in Palaun police station of Sadar Vis.

2.5 percent of the total cost of the project will have to be spent on Watershed Area Treatment CAT. The project will produce 692.61 lakh units of electricity annually. The project will be constructed in 432.67 hectares of land. It consists of 25.88 hectares of private land.

The power house of the project will have three green turbines of 50.33 MW capacity and two green turbines of 20.20 MW capacity. Let us tell you that the dream of this scheme was seen in 2009, but then the project was stuck in approval from the ministry and other formalities. After getting the approval, Sadar MLA Anil Sharma also expressed happiness and said that now the dream of his father, former Central Pandit Sukhram, will be fulfilled.

He said that once the construction work of the project starts, hundreds of people will get direct and indirect employment. He said that the estimated cost of the project in 2018 has been estimated at around Rs 1530 crore. The main dam will be constructed in Thana village. The dam will be 108 meters high. The reservoir of the project will be about 18 kilometers from the main dam to Bijni, 4.5 kilometers towards Rana Khad and one and a half kilometer towards Arnodi Khad. He said that the issue of construction of this scheme was taken up with the Chief Minister. After which its process has gained momentum.

For this he is grateful to Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu. He said that for him this is a happy as well as an emotional moment. He said that with the arrival of forest clearance, the construction of this project will now gain momentum. The department has been asked to immediately acquire land for this project.