Question : Policy on Setting up of Mini and Micro Hydel Projects

(a) whether the Government has formulated or proposes to formulate a nationwide policy to set up mini and micro hydel projects in Himalayan States including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and North-Eastern states, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has set any target for skill development and encouraging entrepreneurship in new and renewable energy sector, and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether there is any Government policy to ensure the inclusion/participation of local people and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR POWER, COAL, NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY & MINES (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a): The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has policies in place to set up Mini and Micro Hydels Projects nationwide including Himalayan States of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and North-Eastern States. The MNRE is providing technical and financial assistance for installation of Micro/Mini and Small Hydro Projects. Higher rate of Central Financial Assistance (CFA) is provided to encourage setting up of micro, mini and small hydro projects in Himalayan States including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and North-Eastern states. The details of CFA provided by the MNRE is given at Annexure–I.
(b): MNRE has set-up a target to train 50000 Suryamitra by March 2020 for system design, installation, operation and maintenance of solar systems besides supporting short term training programmes on different aspects of renewable energy. The yearwise breakup of the Suryamitra to be trained is as follows:

Sr. No. Year No. of persons to be trained
1 2015-16 2,000
2 2016-17 7,000
3 2017-18 12,000
4 2018-19 14,000
5 2019-20 15,000
Total 50,000

By September 2016, 5492 Suryamitras have been trained under this programme in different states. MNRE is also supporting Centre of Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE) of IIM Ahmedabad to any innovator, or aspiring entrepreneur or early-stage startup from across the country in the area of renewable energy.

(c): The SHP Scheme of the Ministry envisages inclusion/participation of local people and financial assistance is provided for implementation of Micro/Mini and Small Hydro Projects through community institutions like Panchayats, local bodies NGOs, etc. besides individual entrepreneurs.
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