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25th, August, 2022

 

Topic: Himachal Pradesh Power Sector Development Program

 

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

 

What is the news?

  • Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said here today the Government of India will provide a financing facility worth about Rs. 1600 crore through the World Bank for the “Himachal Pradesh Power Sector Development Program” (HPPSDP).
  • With the State equity the total program cost will be approximately Rs. 2000 crore.

 

Which International Organization will also support?

  • Both the World Bank and Department of MPP & Power are working expeditiously towards finalization of the Program preparation and the Program duration will be of five years, starting from year 2023 to 2028.

 

Objective of Program:

 

1) The program aims to undertake holistic power sector reforms in a manner to allow for improvements in the renewable energy integration in the state. The key result areas through which this is being targeted are–improvements in utilization of the state’s power sector resources in renewable, improvements in the reliability of the state’s grid of transmission and distribution level; and, strengthening of the institutional capacities of the various state’s power utilities/agencies.

2) Through this program the efforts will be made towards promotion of integrated resource planning to allow for comprehensive planning of the power sector, piloting demand response management, improving the technical utilization of the existing hydropower assets to facilitate increased integration with other sources of renewable energy and the establishing of a single trading desk to allow for efficient trading of the State’s power. These interventions will allow the state to maximize the revenue earned from the sale of energy through renewable balancing capacity.

3) Chief Minister said that the Program also aims to install new capacities in solar generation of about 200 MW, through HPPCL and HIMURJA. It is important for the State to meet its power requirements to allow for optimal trading and hence the Program shall also focus on strengthening the power network within the state –at transmission (by HPPTCL) and in 13 towns at distribution levels (by HPSEBL). An up gradation of the systems of the State Load Dispatch Center (HPSLDC) would further allow for better management of power demand and supply. Collectively, these all interventions shall allow for an improved transfer of power within the state by improving the reliability and quality of power supply.

 

How world Bank will contribute?

  • Chief Minister said that one of the major interventions through this World Bank supported Program will be towards strengthening the Environmental & Social systems applicable to the State’s power sector to allow for better monitoring and evaluation of these aspects.
  • The focus here will be to work further on detailed Environmental and Social assessments based on the gap analysis of the existing norms, regulations, and the existing studies.
  • Under this World Bank-supported Program there is no new investment in hydropower is envisaged, but the program will help the state develop uniform Environment and Social Policy and Procedures for the power sector utilities and provide benchmarks for the sustainable development of renewable energy in the state. Further, this program will also aim to encourage more women participation in the State Power Sector.
(Source: HP Government)

 

 

Topic: Dhaulasidh Power Project of SJVNL

 

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

What is the news?

  • A protest was held against the management of the Dhaulasidh Power Project of Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) for ignoring the interests of local residents.

Reason:

  • Raj Kumar, a resident of Sujanpur, said the management was preferring outsiders and ignoring the locals while providing jobs. There were even anomalies during the process of land acquisition for the project, he added.

 

About Dhaulasidh Power Project of Satluj:

  • The proposed Dhaulasidh Hydro Electric Project (DSHEP) situated in Hamirpur and Kangra Districts of Himachal Pradesh is being executed by SJVN Limited.

 

The project is on which river?

  • The Project is designed as a Run-of-River project on the River Beas with a small live storage that would be utilized for peaking power during the lean season.

 

Capacity:

  • The project utilizes a gross head of 46.37 m (net head of 45.33 m) to generate 304 MU in a 90% dependable year with an installed capacity of 66 MW.

 

About Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL):

  • SJVN Limited, a Mini Ratna, Category-I and Schedule –‘A’ CPSE under administrative control of Ministry of Power, Government of India, was incorporated on May 24, 1988 as a joint venture of the Government of India (GOI) and the Government of Himachal Pradesh (GOHP). SJVN is now a listed Company having a shareholders pattern of 59.92% with Government of India, 26.85% with the Government of Himachal Pradesh and the rest of 13.23% with the Public.
  • Beginning with a single Project and single State operation (India’s largest 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station in Himachal Pradesh) the Company has commissioned five projects totaling 2015.2 MW of installed capacity including wind and solar power. SJVN is presently implementing power projects in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Maharashtra and Gujarat in India besides neighboring countries name it as Nepal and Bhutan.
(Source: The Tribune)

 

 

Topic: Festival of Himachal

 

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

What is the news?

  • The three-day Pori festival concluded at the Triloknath temple in Lahaul and Spiti today.
  • The festival was inaugurated on Friday by Technical Education Minister Ram Lal Markanda.
  • The minister added that the Triloknath temple is worshipped by the Hindus and Buddhists in the form of Lord Shiva and Avalokiteshvara.
  • Apart from cultural programs, other sports activities such as volleyball, kabaddi, archery and tug of war for women were organised during the fair. A group dance was also performed by the Mahila Mandals to entertain the audience.

Special Highlights of the Festival:

  • The Pori Festival is a three-day festival.
  • It is celebrated by both Hindus and Buddhists living in these Himalayan Highlands, and is the perfect example of the region’s rich cultural amalgamation.
  • During the celebrations of this festival, the horse holds a place of extreme prominence. It is bathed in sweetwater, fed rich and healthy food, and decorated beautifully.
  • At the temple of Triloknath, the statue of the Deity is bathed with milk and yogurt.
  • With its street plays, music, dances and games, the festival offer tourists a peek into the fascinating culture of the people living in this Himalayan hinterland.

 

Festival Dates/Months:

  • The Pori Festival is celebrated during the 3rd week of August every year.

Brief:

  • Pori Mela – this is a yearly event & a big District level fair is organised in the Triloknath temple and in the village . The local Thakurs take the horse of Triloknath Jee to the starting point of Saptdhara and it is believed that they bring Triloknath Jee back to the temple on this horse . Devotee took their holy bath in the Saptdhara. After Pauri Mela group of devotee to a Manimehesh lake in Bharmour of Chamba through the Kugti Pass and some of them return back after taking dip in the holy lake through Kali Chho Pass .

 

 

About Trilokinath Temple:

  • Triloknath temple is situated in the Udaipur subdivision of District Lahaul and Spiti of Himachal Pradesh .
  • It is nearly 45 KM from Keylong, Distt Head Quarter of Lahaul and Spiti early 146 KM from Manali.
  • Ancient name of Triloknath temple is Tunda vihar .This is holy shrine is revered equally by Hindus and the Buddhists.
  • Hindus consider Triloknath deity as ‘Lard Shiva’ while the Buddhists consider the deity as ‘ Arya Avalokiteshwar ‘ Tibetan language speaking people called him as ‘Garja Fagspa‘.
  • This holy shrine is so important that is, it is considered as most scarred pilgrim thirth next only to kailash and Mansarover .
  • The uniqueness of the temple lies in the fact that it is the only temple in the whole world where both Hindus and Buddhists pay their reverence to the same deity.
  • The temple is situated in the panoramic Chandra Bhaga valley to the western Himalayas .
  • It is highly spiritual place where one gets the spiritual blessing of the lord of three universes that is Shri Triloknath ji by visit having this Darshan and offering ones prayers.

 

History Of The Temple:

  • This temple was constructed in the 10th century. It is proved by a stone inscription which was found in the temple complex in 2002 .
  • It is described in this stone inscription that this temple was made by Dvanjra Rana which are beloved to be ancestors of present ‘ Rana Thakurs rulers of Triloknath village. They were believed to be helped by King Shell Varman of Chamba who got this temple constructed in ‘Shikher style’ as there are ‘Laxmi Narayan’ temple complex of Chamba. King Shell Varman was the founder of Chamba town.
  • This temple was approximately constructed at the end of the 9th century and at the start of the 10th century. Major role was also played by Rajgrana of Chamba Mahayogi Sidh Charpati Dar (Charpath Nath). He had an unlimited devotion to Bodhisattva Arya Avalokiteshwar and he had composed 25 shlokas in this glory which are called “ Avalokiteshwar strotan Chedem “.
  • This is a single temple of Lahaul valley in Shiker Style. Deity of Triloknath Ji is six hundred and lalitasan Lord Buddha is sitting head of Triloknath. The deity is made up of marble.
  • There is also a local story after the manifestation of this deity. It was said that there was a lake on the present Hinsa Nalla. Seven persons of milky cower use to come out of this lake & drink the milk of grazing cows . One day one of them was caught by Tundu Cowherd boy and was taken to the village on his village on his back .
  • There the caught person converted into a marble deity . This deity was established in the temple . This lake is called as ‘Ome cho milky ocean ) in Tibetan stories .
    Another local story described that temple was completed in one night by ‘ Mah Danav’ The present Hinsa Nalla is unique as its water is still milky white and is never changes its color even in heaviest rainfall .
    Worship is performed in this temple according to Buddhist traditions . It is a practice since time immemorial .

 

Architectural Style:

  • This is a single temple of Lahaul valley in Shiker Style.
(Source: The Tribune & HP Government)

 

 

Topic: National Teachers Award

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

What is the news?

  • Three teachers from Himachal Pradesh have been selected for the National Teachers Award.

Who released the list?

  • In the list released by the Ministry of Education on Thursday, the names of Yudhvir Tandon, Virendra Kumar and Amit Kumar from the state are included.

Why important?

  • For the first time from the state, three teachers will get the national awards together.

 

Under which category they received this?

  • They have been selected in the category of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas across the country.
(Source: Amar Ujala)

 

 

 

Topic: State’s first international level football ground

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

What is the news?

  • Smart City Dharamshala is coming up as the state’s first international level football ground.
  • The construction work of the ground has begun on the land near the Integrated House for Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) building in Charan.

 

  • Its construction will cost Rs 4.80 crore under the Smart City and the ground will be ready by March 2023. The tender process for the project was completed in March this year.
  • Standards of the Federation International de Football Association (FIFA) will be used in the football field.

 

What is the size of international football ground?

  •  FIFA recommendations for field dimensions in professional football are 105 metres in length and 68 metres in width.
(Source: Amar Ujala)