Power sector PSUs to contribute Rs 25 cr to rebuild infrastructure in Uttarakhand

Minister of state (Independent charge) for power Jyotiraditya M Scindia chaired a meeting here on Wednesday of senior officers of the Ministry and CMDs of power public sector undertakings (PSUs), in which it was decided that power sector would contribute towards sustainable re-building of infrastructure destroyed during the natural calamity in Uttarakhand. It is understood that a large number of roads, bridges, schools, and other community structures have been washed away or destroyed during the unprecedented floods. Hence the Minister for Power has decided that the power sector PSUs will share a part of the burden in re-building of the much needed infrastructure to put the state back into the economic growth process.

Accordingly, it was decided that the nine power sector PSUs namely – NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation), PGCIL (Power Grid Corporation), NHPC (National Hydro Power Corporation), THDC (Tehri Hydro Development Corporation), SJVN (Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam), PFC (Power Finance Corporation), REC (Rural Electrification Corporation), DVC (Damodar Valley Corporation), and NEEPCO (North East Electric Power Corporation), will together would make a contribution of Rs 25 crore towards this effort. The projects selected for funding assistance will be decided in consultation with the state government and would be as per needs of the Uttarakhand government and as per their priority and requirements.

Accordingly NTPC will contribute Rs 10 crore, PGCIL will contribute Rs 5 crore, PFC, will contribute Rs 3 crore, REC will contribute Rs 2 crore, NHPC will contribute Rs 1 crore, THDC will contribute Rs 1 crore, SJVN will contribute Rs 1 crore, DVC will contribute Rs 1 crore, and NEEPCO will contribute Rs 1 crore.

The minister also emphasised that the generating stations of the sector power sector PSUs should in consultation with the state government ensure uninterrupted and required power for the state.