Dehra Dun: The Centre is unlikely to take a decision on restarting work on the suspended hydel power projects in Uttarakhand until the culmination of the Mahakumbh in April.
Three projects—NTPC's 600 mw Lohari Nagpala, Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited's 480 mw Pala Maneri and 380 mw Bhaironghati on Bhagirathi river in Uttarkashi district were suspended on religious and environmental grounds.
"We are not expecting any decision on these suspended hydel projects before the culmination of the Kumbh fairwhere sufficient water in Ganga would be required," said an official of the state government.
Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand government has told a high-powered committee that 4 cumax of water flow would be sufficient to maintain the perennial flow of the river Bhagirathi on which the three projects were being built.
"We have told the committee members that 4 cumax of water flow is scientifically sufficient as far as the Bhagirathi is concerned," state power adviser Yogendra Prasad said.
Earlier, an NTPC expert committee had suggested maintaining at least 16 cumax of water in the river, but Prasad claimed it had no scientific basis.
Prasad said releasing more water in the river would affect the viability of all hydel projects.
With the projects remaining in suspended animation, they would face a cost escalation of 8 to 10% per year, experts said.
The Centre had already sent the high-powered committee to assess various issues concerning the revival of the hydel project on the river Bhagirathi in Uttarakhand. The committee was led by Union power secretary H S Brahma and Union secretary for environment and forests Vijay Sharma.
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