A proposal to merge smaller public sector hydro players with NHPC is still under discussion stage, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal said on Friday.

Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of his meeting with stakeholders of solar power industry, Goyal said the opposition, expressed by SJVN Ltd against merging all public sector hydro power generators with NHPC, will also be considered.

The Government has proposed to amalgamate NEEPCO (North East Electric Power Corporation), THDC Ltd and SJVNL with NHPC. SBI Capital Markets has been engaged to create a concept paper on the matter. SJVNL raised objections as it had not been discussed with them first.

SJVNL is a joint venture between the Central Government and the Himachal Pradesh Government. NEEPCO focuses on power generation in the North East region while THDC is a joint venture between the Central Government and Uttar Pradesh Government to operate the Tehri Dam hydroelectric project.

Meanwhile, the Government also proposes to transfer the thermal projects of public sector hydro electric firms to NTPC Ltd. Further development on the matter is expected in the first week of September, said P K Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Power.

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