Skill Development - scope

PSEs Contribute Generously for Relief Operations
of Uttarakhand Flood Affected People
HAL’s Indigenous Dhruv Helicopters Fly
High, Support Indian Defence Forces in
a Big Way in Uttarakhand Operations
HAL produced helicopters – Dhruv, Cheetah/Chetak
– played a leading role in the biggest ever helicopter
based rescue operation of Indian defence forces
in flood and rain-hit areas of Uttarakhand recently.
These copters deployed over flood and landslide affected
areas in Uttarakhand performed effectively in
dropping paratroopers, evacuating stranded people
and in supply of food and medicines. The helicopters
made hundreds of sorties in the high risk zone
overcoming strong winds, visibility and with virtually
no space for landing on high terrains. HAL teams
were positioned at Deharadun and Delhi to ensure
logistic support for the rescue operations.
Dhruv which can carry 16 passengers was the star
performer. On many occasions, due to incessant rain
IAF pilots could only use Dhruv as it was unsafe for
other copters to land. Dhruv helicopters flew for
nearly 630 hours during the operation and Cheetah/
Chetak flew 520 hours.
HAL built Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH-Dhruv) in action
during the rescue and reconnaissance operations of
Indian Air Force and Army at Uttarakhand.
“The indigenized helicopters pressed into service by
the Army and the Air Force in flood-hit areas have
proved their mettle in carrying out rescue and relief
operations in highly inaccessible areas. We are
proud of it”, says Dr. R.K. Tyagi, Chairman, HAL.
Power Sector PSEs to Contribute Rs. 25 cr towards
re-building Uttarakhand Infrastructure
The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power
Mr. Jyotriditya M Scindia recently chaired a meeting of
senior Officers of the Ministry and CMDs of Power Public
Sector Undertakings (PSUs), in which it was decided
that Power Sector would contribution towards sustainable
re-building of infrastructure destroyed during
the huge natural calamity of floods which has affected
Uttrakhand. Hence the Minister for Power decided that
the Power sector PSUs will share a part of the burden in
re-building of the much needed infrastructure to put
Uttrakhand back into the economic growth process.
Accordingly, it was decided that the 9 Power sector
PSUs namely – NTPC, PGCIL (Power Grid Corporation),
NHPC, THDC (Tehri Hydro Development Corporation),
SJVN (Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam), PFC (Power Finance
Corporation), REC (Rural Electrification Corporation),
DVC (Damodar Valley Corporation), and NEEPCO (North
East Electric Power Corporation), together would make
a contribution of Rs. 25 cr towards this effort. The projects
selected for funding assistance will be decided in
consultation with the state government and would be
as per needs of the state government and as per their
priority and requirements. Accordingly NTPC will contribute
Rs. 10 crores, PGCIL will contribute Rs. 5 cr, PFC,
will contribute Rs. 3 cr, REC will contribute Rs. 2 cr, NHPC
will contribute Rs. 1 cr, THDC will contribute Rs. 1 cr, SJVN
will contribute Rs. 1 cr, DVC will contribute Rs. 1 cr, and
NEEPCO will contribute Rs. 1cr.
Kaleidoscope July 2013
89