With the State Government pressing for two ‘undue demands’ with the NHPC, two important power projects which are waiting in the wings for implementation in Pithoragarh, seems to have struck for over a year. The State Government is not only demanding an additional one per cent free power than the allocated quota of 12 per cent, it is entitled to get as per the laid down norms but also demanding some power from an unallocated quota which lies with the Central Government for emergency period. But the interesting fact is that both the conditions that the State Government has made in return for signing an implementation agreement for these two projects are not in tune with the laid down norms. “So both the demands which the State Government had raised with us, are now under the consideration of the Government of India,” said the highly-placed sources in the NHPC, Pithoragarh. It is worth mentioning here that there is already a provision that allows a State Government to get 12 per cent free power from every power project that is set up in the State by any agency. But demand for one per cent additional free power and seeking share in the unallocated quota of power that lies with the Centre is quite unperceiving on part of the State Government. However, the two aforesaid power projects are — the Dhauli Ganga power project at Sobala (Pithoragarh) and the Gori Ganga power project at Madkot (Pithoragarh). The power project on the Dhauli Ganga is 240 MW power project, while the project on the Gori river is 120 MW power project, said DR Sagar, executive engineer, NHPC, Dharuchula, while talking to The Pioneer. “Both the power projects are ready to be implemented. If the State Government grants implementation agreement clearance on Thursday, we can start working on these important power projects within three months time,” the executive engineer claimed. The matter of fact is that the required infrastructure is ready. The road connectivity is in place. The NHPC submitted an implementation agreement draft to the State Government for final clearance of these projects about a year ago, but the then State Government retuned the aforesaid implementation agreement draft with these two aforesaid queries, informed Sagar. Since both the demands are policy matters and subject to Central Government’s approval, these issues are under the consideration of the Government of India. So unless or until the Center clears the same or the State grants its clearance under this implementation agreement, nothing can be done to start work on these power projects, the NHPC official maintained. However, the matter of fact is that at a time when the Sstate is lurking under acute power shortage, delay in granting clearance on part of the State Government is only adding to the power woes that the citizens of the State have been facing since long.