Shimla. The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet approved handing over the 780 MW Jangi Thopan Powari Hydroelectric Project to Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL). The state Cabinet cancelled the allotment of the hydropower project located on the banks of Sutlej river in Kinnaur district to SJVN in November, 2023 as the company failed to achieve progress in implementation of the project within the stipulated time. The project was given to SJVN in November, 2018 during the tenure of the previous BJP government.
The MoU was signed between SJVN and the state government in September 2019 and investment for pre-construction activities of Rs 93.24 crore was approved by the Centre in May 2021. According to a statement, the state Cabinet, which met here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, also decided to allot 1,630 MW Renukaji and 270 MW Thana Plown pumped storage hydropower projects in favour of HPPCL. The meeting approved the formation of a Cabinet sub-committee headed by Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil to give recommendations for strengthening the Rogi Kalyan Samitis.
It will have Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani and Ayush Minister Yadvinder Goma as its members. The Cabinet also gave its approval to promote the Solan-based State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) as the apex institute for school and teacher training at the state level. Its objective is to promote educational research and improve the quality of education. Apart from this, the Cabinet decided to strengthen 12 District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) for professional development of teachers.
