NE consensus on development of power
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 12 2010: Keeping in mind the need for sustainable power resource in the economic development of the region, the two-day 8th North Eastern Regional Power Committee meeting held here in Imphal has resolved to work jointly to improve power resource mobilisation in the North Eastern Region.

Power Ministers of Nagaland, DY Sema and Tripura, Manik Dey and Manipur, Phungzathang Tonsing attended the meeting on the last day of the two-day long meeting which concluded today.

The state Chief Minister, O Ibobi graced the meeting as chief guest.

Apart from officials and engineers of power departments of the North Eastern states of Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, officials of Power Grid Corporation of India and North Eastern Power Grid Corporation also attended the meeting.

Chief Minister O Ibobi and other dignitaries at concluding day of the two-day 8th NER Power Committee meeting

The meeting prominently discussed the insufficient power supply which is directly related with the delay in development which in turn affects the economic development of the region.

Speaking on the occasion, Manipur Chief Minister, O Ibobi affirmed that the shortage of power has become a matter of concern for all North Eastern States as the demand for the much needed power for economic development is growing day by day.

"This has arrested the growth of economy in general and affected the quality of life of the people of this region.

Our concerted effort and thrust therefore, should be on the timely completion of power projects and the associated transmission systems interlinking the states of the region," he observed.

The demand will further increase after the completion of the flagship programmes of village electrification under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) in all the states and after implementation of accerlerated power development reforms programme-II, Chief Minister Ibobi said and appealed to all Central and State government organisations to explore all means to harness the untapped resources of power in the region.

He also informed the gathering that the Government of Manipur has decided to implement (3x22) 66 MW, Loktak Downstream Hydro Electricity Project from the fiscal year 2010-11 as a joint venture project with NHPC.

Tipaimukh Hydro Electricity Project (HEP) (6x 250) MW is also finalised to be taken up by the state government with NHPC and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited.

He expressed confidence that the Central Sector Generating utilities, NEEPCO, NHPC, NTPC and OTPC will maintain strict schedule to commission their ongoing projects like Kameng HEP (600 MW).

Lower Subansiri HEP (2000 MW), Bongaigoan (750 MW) and Pallatana (750 MW) respectively within scheduled commissioning time.

The commissioning of these projects at Pallatana and Bongaigoan will definitely improve the much needed base load, improve the thermal-hydro mix and transform the power scenario in the region during the dry seasons, the Chief Minister added.

He also talked at length about the power shortage problems in the region and appealed to the gathering officials and engineers to co-ordinate with each other and make a joint effort to improve the power transmission system in the region.