Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday said the State Government is making best possible efforts to boost investment in hydro power sector as this sector is not only engine of growth but also has immense potential to provide employment.

He said efforts are on to expedite the pace of execution of power projects in the state which had slowed down during the last few years.

Chairing a meeting organised here to discuss the investment and progress in the hydro power projects in the state, Thakur said that proper memorandum of understanding (MoU) would be signed for five hydro power projects most likely in the month of August, this year, which have been allocated to the SJVNL. These include Luhri stage-1 (210 MW), Sunni Dam (382 MW), Dhola Sidh (66 MW), Luhri, stage-2 (172 MW) and Jangi Thopan (780 MW).

He said that these five hydro power projects have the potential of investment of Rs. 15,000 crores and would provide employment to around 8,000 people. Keeping this in view, the government would ensure that execution of these projects is expedited and serious efforts are made to complete these.

The Chief Minister said that the government would also develop the Chenab river basin which has the capacity of 3000 MW hydro power generation. The five projects allocated in the Chenab basin have been cancelled and now the government would consider the viability before further allocation of these projects and providing concession to the investors.

Principal Secretary, MPP and Power Prabodh Saxena, CMD, SJVNL Nand Lal Sharma, Director, Energy Mansi Sahai and other senior officers attended the meeting.