REPORT : ALOK SEMWAL
Dehradun. Uttarakhand’s power sector got a shot in the arm on Wednesday as the Board of Directors of Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam (UJVN) Limited wrapped up its 133rd meeting with a string of consequential decisions. Chaired by Chief Secretary and UJVN Chairman Anand Vardhan at the state Secretariat, the session moved briskly through a packed agenda — and by the time it concluded, several long-pending hydropower proposals had finally found their footing.
A Long Wait Ends for Pithoragarh
For the people of Pithoragarh, Wednesday’s meeting brought news worth celebrating. The board cleared the decks for civil works to begin on the 120 MW Sirkari Bhyol Rupsiabagar Hydropower Project — a proposal that had been in the pipeline for quite some time. Nestled in one of the state’s most remote and strategically sensitive border districts, this project carries weight well beyond its megawatt count. For a region that has historically lagged behind in infrastructure and jobs, it could well mark a turning point.
Dehradun’s 600 MW Pump Storage Project Moves Forward
The board also turned its attention to the ambitious 600 MW Ichari Pump Storage Project proposed within Dehradun district, directing that the process of preparing tender documents be taken up and cleared at the appropriate level without delay. Pump storage technology — essentially a giant rechargeable battery using water — is increasingly seen as the backbone of reliable renewable energy systems. Getting this project off the drawing board is a step Uttarakhand badly needed, particularly as the state looks to future-proof its energy infrastructure.
Tons River Project Gets Construction Clearance
The 72 MW Tyuni Palasu Hydropower Project, proposed on the Tons River in Dehradun district, also received a significant push forward. The board approved the award of both civil and hydro-mechanical construction works, effectively turning the project from a plan on paper into an active construction endeavour. Completion of this project will bring a tangible boost to the district’s power generation numbers.
Arakot Tyuni Project Takes Its First Step
Meanwhile, the 81 MW Arakot Tyuni Hydropower Project on the Pabar River edged closer to reality as the board laid out clear guidelines for getting its Detailed Project Report approved. A DPR is essentially the blueprint that unlocks everything else — funding, clearances, contracts — so this direction sets the project on a firm course ahead.
Those Present at the Meeting
The meeting brought together a senior cross-section of the state’s administrative and energy leadership. Principal Secretary Energy Dr. R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Finance Secretary Dilip Jawlkar, and Independent Directors Indu Kumar Pandey, B.P. Pandey, and Parag Gupta attended alongside Chairman Anand Vardhan. Representing UJVN were Managing Director A.K. Singh, Director Projects Suresh Chandra Baluni, and Executive Directors Sudhakar Badoni and Ashish Jain.
Taken together, the decisions from Wednesday’s meeting account for nearly 873 MW of hydropower capacity across various stages of development. For a mountain state that runs largely on water and weather, getting these projects moving is not just good policy — it is a practical necessity.
