Foreign investments in hydro power projects

Foreign Direct Investment of 100 per cent has already been permitted on the automatic approval route for projects relating to electricity generation, transmission and distribution (other than atomic energy power plants) including hydro-based electricity projects in Sikkim and other parts of the country.

In addition, fiscal incentives are also available under the mega power policy, subject to compliance of certain conditions. Under the mega policy, a lower qualifying capacity has been provided for the states of J&K, Sikkim and the North-Eastern States at a minimum 350 MW for hydel power projects and 700 MW for thermal power projects as compared to a minimum of 500 MW for hydel power projects and 1000 MW for thermal power projects in the other parts of the country.

This information was given by the power minister Sushilkumar Shinde in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.