Shimla: The Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) operating under the Union ministry of power spent Rs 20,441 crore in Himachal Pradesh over the last three financial years as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.This includes Rs 4,976 crore spent during 2024-25, while Rs 7,675 crore was spent in 2023-24 and Rs 7,789 crore in 2022-23.Major contributors to this expenditure include leading power sector CPSEs such as Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) Limited, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited, and THDC India Limited (THDCIL).SJVNL emerged as the largest contributor, investing Rs 9,558 crore in the CSR initiatives during the three-year period. NHPC Limited followed with Rs 6,017 crore, while Powergrid spent Rs 3,070 crore. Other contributors included NTPC Limited with Rs 815 crore, PFC Limited with Rs 679 crore, and REC Limited with Rs 221 crore.The information was shared in the Rajya Sabha on Monday by Union minister of state for power Shripad Naik in response to a query raised by Himachal Pradesh MP Harsh Mahajan.The minister stated that the CSR activities undertaken by these CPSEs fall under the categories specified in Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013. He explained that the initiatives focused on key social sectors such as health care, education, skill development, rural development, women empowerment, environmental sustainability, welfare of the elderly and persons with disabilities, promotion of sports, and disaster management.Naik further clarified that the CSR was a board-driven process. The boards of CPSEs are empowered to plan, approve, implement, and monitor CSR activities based on recommendations of their CSR committees, in line with Section 135 of the Companies Act, department of public enterprises guidelines and related amendments.Projects may be implemented directly by the CPSEs or through authorised agencies and govt departments. As per the CSR rules, companies with an average CSR obligation of Rs 10 crore or more must conduct independent impact assessments for large projects. These assessments, along with annual CSR action plans, are mandatorily disclosed in the companies’ annual board reports.MSID:: 128154566 413 |
