(HT)
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union minister of forest, environment and climate change Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi on Thursday and urged for approval of the desired environmental clearance and transfer of forest land for the Tyuni-Plasu Hydroelectric Project on Tons river as well as the Rupsiabagar Hydroelectric Project on Gauriganga river.
“Construction of new environment-friendly hydroelectric projects is necessary for proper arrangement of power supply and to meet the increasing needs of the state. This will provide employment opportunities to the local people and will greatly help in the socio-economic development of the region and the problem of migration of the state can also be controlled,” Dhami said.
He also sought approval of 47.547 hectares of land required for the construction of the proposed 72 MW capacity Tyuni-Plasu Hydroelectric Project on Tons, a tributary of the Yamuna river.
Requesting for early approval of transfer of forest land and revenue land (barren land), he said that since the proposed projects on Ganga river in Uttarakhand have not been approved, it is absolutely necessary to construct new power projects on Yamuna river and Gauriganga, Dhauliganga rivers in Kumaon region. The CM informed that Rupsiabagar Hydroelectric Project is the first project proposed on Gauriganga river. Requesting for early approval of the proposal for transfer of 29.997 hectares of forest land and environmental clearance required for this 120 MW capacity project, Dhami said: “Considering the strategic importance and national interest, it would be beneficial to construct these hydroelectric projects of the state.” Dhami also urged Yadav to approve the proposal for ropeway development from Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh to Neelkanth Mahadev Temple.
