Shimla : Around eight years back, the idea of Hydro Engineering College in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh was conceived in 2009 and after a long wait finally this ambitious project going to see the light of the day as Prime Minister Narendra Modi would lay its foundation stone during his visit to Shimla on April 27.
Himachal Pradesh government in July last year had signed a special memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Government of India, NTPC & NHPC for the setting up college. This ambitious project with the financial support of NHPC and NTPC would be set up at Bandla in Bilaspur district at the cost of Rs 125 crore.
Himachal Pradesh Technical Education Minister G S Bali said that all the formalities required for the opening of this college have already been completed by the state technical education department. He said after the signing of MoU last year, foundation stone laying was pending.
He said during his visit to Shimla, Prime Minister Narendra Modi would lay the foundation stone of college for which NHPC and NTPC would contribute Rs 37.50 crore each in the first phase and Rs 25 crore each in the second phase.
He said in the first phase, the college would offer engineering degrees in Mechanical, Civil, Electrical and Computer disciplines. He said with the strengthening of infrastructure more specialized courses would be offered. The state government has also accorded administrative approval of Rs 82 crores for the construction of campus of the institute.
Since long need was felt to have a comprehensive and specialized field of study and to cater to this requirement idea of Hydro Engineering College was conceived during the BJP regime when Prem Kumar Dhumal was chief minister of state. “It was a dream to have to set up India’s first Hydro Engineering College in Himachal Pradesh and I am happy that with foundation stone to be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 27 this long cherished dream would become a reality,” said Dhumal who is now Leader of Opposition.
Dhumal said as Chief Minister, he had ensured 62 bighas of land for this college at Bilaspur but latter college became the victim of wrong politics. He said college would provide more job opportunities as the state has vast hydropower potential and hundreds of projects are yet to come which would require specialized manpower.
Himachal Pradesh has the potential of 24000 MW of harnessable hydropower which could be generated from the rivers of the state. 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.
These projects will require a 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. The 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.
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