Hydro Sector to benefit fromHimachal Pradesh is a small hilly State where benevolent nature has bestowed many perennial and precious gifts to people living in the mountainous region. These treasures of nature are abundant in terms of tourism and power generation potential flowing through scores of rivers flowing down the State. Himachal Pradesh is power surplus State where power is available on demand and as per requirement of industries, commerce and trades besides regular supply to general consumers.

• Himachal Pradesh has hydro potential of 24000 MW which could be generated from the rivers of the State. Out of this, the State has allotted 21,500 MW for various completed and to be completed projects. This has involved both public and private enterprises to exploit the optimum potential available in this sector. A potential of about 10,351 MW has already been harnessed so far through various projects which are successfully running and contributing to the economy of the State. SJVNL, NTPC are big national players producing hydroelectricity in the State and adding to the economy of the State.
• 1281.50 Crore Uhl stage III 100 MW project is on verge of completion. The State Govt has allotted Devikothi 16 MW, Saikothi 16.50 MW, Hail HEP 18 MW, Raison 18 MW Butseri 60 MW and New Nogli 9 MW to HPSEBL for execution. In addition to this Himurja has also allotted small projects for implementation.
• In the wake of present environmental scenario of the world focus is being shifted to clean and environment friendly energy to run the wheels of industry and commerce. The state government is also promoting such projects which are safe to the environment and proper care is being taken for development of the area where the project is situated.
• These projects will require large number of skilled persons, in different categories to work at different level in these projects. At present skilled engineers are generally hired from outside the State.
• Opening of hydro engineering College in the State will be able to produce engineers with specialization in the field of hydroelectricity. The demand of the industry could be fulfilled with the engineers coming out of this institute.
• The State Government has taken initiative to invoke cooperation of public enterprises of international repute NTPC and NHPC for this college. The Hydro Engineering College at Bandla district Bilaspur will have four streams in mechanical, civil, electrical and computer science.
• In order to provide adequate land for hydro engineering college the State Government has transferred 62 bighas of land to technical education department. The government has also accorded administrative approval of Rs. 82 crores for construction of campus of the institute.

Hydro Engineering College, Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh :

Hydro Engineering College, Bilaspur Himachal Pradesh is a recognised institute / college. Hydro Engineering College, Bilaspur Himachal Pradesh was established on / in 2013. College is situated in Bandla, Bilaspur of Himachal Pradesh state. This college is a Joint venture of National Hydro Power Corp (NHPC), National Thermal Power Corp (NTPC) and SJVN.

 Hydro-Power Policy

•  Hydro Power Policy is innovative and will have far reaching effect on the overall development of the country. In the next decade about Rs. 80,000 crore would be invested in Himachal Pradesh which will certainly have effect on the overall development of the State.
• The Hydro-Power Policy would reflect the felt needs of the people of Himachal Pradesh for their welfare. Fifteen percent of the Project cost is to be utilized by the District-Level Development Authority. The Local Area Development Committee will be entrusted with, but not limited to the activities in the Project included Areas, which are those areas/ villages surrounding/falling in the catchment/ watershed areas extending from the reservoir to the tail race of the project. It would oversee the restoration of facilities adversely affected due to implementation of the Project, implementation of Rehabilitation and Relief Plan, Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) Plan and Compensatory Afforestation and it would also oversee the activities related to development of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Rural Development, I&PH, Health, Forest, Education, PWD, Power and other social, Religious and Cultural etc.
• The activities of the Local Area Development Committee during execution would be financed by the Project itself and for this purpose, the developer would make a provision of 1.5 percent of final cost of the Project. It has been made mandatory to release minimum flow of 15 percent water immediately down-stream of the diversion structures to address issues concerning riparian rights, drinking water, health, aquatic life, wild life, fisheries, silt and even to honour the sensitive religious issues like cremation and other religious rites etc. on the river banks. The Government would create an Authority of Hydro-Project Safety, Quality Control & Management of Water Flows and Discharge in due course.
• As compared to other hilly States, all the river basins in the State are fully developed. As a small compensation, State Government shall be charging an upfront premium of Rs. 10 lac per MW for projects above 100 MW. In addition, the State shall realize royalty ranging from 12 percent to 30 percent and after 40 years, the projects shall revert back to the State.