Former Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has written a letter to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh expressing concern over government’s move to decontrol the setting up of all upcoming hydro-electric projects in the State. He has expressed shock over Mr. Singh’s promise of not asking for any ‘no objection certificate’ (NOC) from various concerned departments for private developers and independent power producers. He said in case of absence of any NOC from the departments, the functioning and execution of various government projects would be affected and the private companies would pursue their projects with profit as the only motive and priority.
The private producers might not follow the basic practice of leaving even 15 per cent water in the original source and would divert the entire flow to the tunnels in their projects. The flora and fauna on the concerned river banks, the IPH schemes and fisheries business will get badly affected and even face closure, said Mr. Dhumal.
Instead of ending the practice of securing the NOCs, the government should streamline the functioning and end the redtape and excessive official formalities in these departments to help the entrepreneurs, he advised.
In another statement, the State BJP has defined the new effort of Chief Minister as an attempt to encourage the private businessmen to plunder the natural resources of the hill State without any check. The move has been initiated to help some of his party’s acquaintances involved in the hydro power business, alleged the Opposition.
