Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that energy conservation was vital as without it, the world would deplete its natural resources and the humanity would have to depend on alternative energy resources, which comes at the cost of creating an enormous destructive waste products causing adverse impact on mother earth.He was presiding over the state level painting competition on energy conservation organised by the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) under national campaign on Energy Conservation-2018 of union ministry of Power, here today.The Chief Minister said that the goal of energy conservation techniques must be to reduce demand, protect and replenish supplies, develop and use alternative energy sources. This can be achieved either by using energy more efficiently or by reducing the amount of service used. He said that habit of energy conservation must be inculcated in the younger generation to save energy for the future generations. The school children can play a vital role in energy conservation as they can act as brand ambassadors in this direction.Jai Ram Thakur said that Himachal Pradesh is the first state in the country to frame investor friendly hydro power policy under which several incentives have been announced for the potential power producers. He said that the state has immense power potential of over 27000 MW which when fully harnessed would transform the economy of the state. Out of this, over 10500 MW Power potential stands harnessed. He said that SJVNL was the major partner in harnessing this potential and thus a partner in development of the state.
He said that the SJVNL was not only operating its business through hydro, thermal, wind, and solar energy power projects, but also rendering yeoman’s service by its CSR projects through SJVN foundation by helping the masses through donations, scholarship programmes etc. He said that by organising the painting competition, the SJVNL has provided an apt platform for the students to exhibit their talent besides sensitising them regarding importance of energy conservation. He expressed happiness that about 1.50 lakh students of over 5000 schools of the state participated in this competition. Jai Ram Thakur said that SJVNL has emerged as one of the leading corporation of the country in power generation and credit for this goes to the dedicated officers and officials of the corporation. He gave away prizes to the winners of the painting competition.Chairman cum Managing Director, SJVN Dr. Nand Lal Sharma said that the SJVNL would continue to contribute in the development of the state. SJVNL is executing 19 power projects in the State. He thanked the state government for allocating 780 MW capacity Jhangi-Thapan hydro electric project to the company for execution. He said that SJVNL was ready to exploit the untapped power potential available particularly in the tribal districts of the state.He also highlighted salient features of the painting competition. He said that a national level painting competition would be held during next month at New Delhi in which three students of the state would participate.Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, MPP and Power Minister Anil Sharma, Chairman, HIMFED and Independent Director cum Chairman CSR Committee SJVNL Ganesh Dutt, Directors of SJVNL and other senior officers of SJVNL and state government were present on the occasion among others.