Politicians eye hydel projects

After a gap of six years, the state government has decided to allow new mini hydel power projects once again and political leaders, cutting across party lines, are making a beeline to the irrigation department with a hope of bagging a few.

The mini hydel projects will come up on irrigation projects that have been completed over the last six years under Jalayagnam and the irrigation wing has decided to open major canals for setting up the mini hydel projects with capacities ranging from 0.5 mw to 5 mw.

The allocation of mini hydel projects had first started during Mr Chandrababu Naidu’s regime and had proved to be very profitable for those who had got licenses.

At that time the list of licensees included a former chief minister, a home minister and senior ministers and several public representatives. But when Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy took charge in 2004, he directed officials to stop new allotments.

Now with the irrigation department planning to open the canals for hydel power generation once again, political leaders are again showing an interest.

“We have constituted a committee to examine the issue. We have not taken a decision on this but will do so once the committee submits its report,” said irrigation secretary Mr Adityanath Das.

On an average, a single mega watt-capacity mini hydel project will generate revenues of around Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.5 crore for the promoters.

Some leaders met officials of APGenco and the irrigation department enquiring about the probable places where the mini hydel projects might come up.

There are as many as 11 mini hydel projects on the Nagarjuna Sagar right canal and political leaders are now eying the left canal of the project.

“In the last six years no new project was sanctioned and some projects were even cancelled. New projects will certainly increase power generation in the state,” said an MP who is in the race for a hydel project.