Himachal MPP and Power Minister Anil Sharma on Saturday said the State Government will make all efforts to harness the
power potential available within the State.
Presiding over a meeting of officers of HP State Electricity Board limited, Power Corporation and HP Power Transmission Corporation, here to review the power production and distribution in the State, he said 27,500 megawatt potential had been identified in the State out of which 10,500 had been harnessed so far. Besides, various 2,500 MW projects were under construction and various other projects amounting to 8,000 MW capacity had been allotted.
The Minister said after making available the power supply to all census villages of the State, the department would now focus on providing uninterrupted supply round-the-clock to the consumers. He stressed the need to replace old power supply lines, poles and installing more transformers to tackle the low voltage problem.
Sharma said Government will consider setting up smart grid system on the analogy of developed countries in Shimla and Dharmashala, which were being developed as smart cities.
The Power Minister underscored the need to give special attention to check the transmission losses, although it was much lesser in the State as compared to national average. He also stressed to make use of modern technologies for bringing reforms in the power sector.
Additional Chief Secretary, Power Tarun Shridhar said old power supply lines and poles had been replaced at maximum places in the State which had resulted in improving the power supply. He said the Power Corporation had started work on Kashang phase-I while work on Kashang-III Sawra-Kuddu (111 MW) and Shongtong (450 MW) projects were under construction and would be completed in 2018, 2020 and 2021 respectively. He said the Board was purchasing the power
from all private power projects up to 2 MW.
He said the State was generating surplus power and the State will earn revenue of around `1,100 crore from sale of power to other States during this financial year.
