Imphal, January 12 2010: Together with putting up a 400 KV DC line from Silchar, one 400 KV sub-station will be built at Yurembam.

This was agreed to during the 8th Northeastern Regional Power Committee meeting held at Hotel Classic here today.

The meeting attended by representatives of the seven Northeastern States deliberated on enhancing power revenue collection and improving transmission system and power supply.

The meeting expressed concern over the failure of the Government of Manipur to collect power revenue properly and fully.

Ahead of today's meeting, a meeting of the technical core committee was held yesterday where agenda of the meeting were identified.

The meeting was attended by Chairman of the Committee and Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, his counterparts from Tripura, Nagaland, Chairman cum Managing Director of Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited and officials of both the Central and State Governments.

Addressing the inaugural function of the meeting this morning, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi informed about the State Government's decision to begin work on Tipaimukh Hydro Electric Project having an installed capacity of 1500 MW.

Though the project is still a matter of intense debate, Ibobi said that the project would be initiated as a joint venture of the Government of Manipur, NHPC and Sutlej Jal Vidyoot Nigam Limited.

He went on to say that work on Loktak Downstream Hydro-Electric Project, having an installed capacity of 66 MW would be initiated from the fiscal year 2010-2011 .

Highlighting the persistent power crisis in the Northeastern region, Chief Minister O Ibobi appealed for completion of the Kameng Hydro-Electric Project, Lower Subansiri Hydro Electric Project, Bongaigaon and Pallatana projects being taken up by NEEPCO, NHPC, NTPC and OTPC within the stipulated periods.

Chairman of the Northeastern Regional Power Committee and State Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing noted that the Northeastern States have been facing power shortage despite the immense hydro power potential available in the region.

Observing that generation and transmission schemes are being implemented by public sector units of the Government of India, he proposed that the forum (committee) should persuade the Government of India to make greater funding in power generation projects in order to tide over the power crisis.

Quoting report of the 17th Electric Power Survey, Phungzathang said that Manipur's peak demand of power would reach 445 MW in 2021-22 .

Noting the importance of the Silchar-Imphal 400 KV D/C line to transmit certain share of power from Pallatana and Bongaigaon power generation projects, the Power Minister said that necessary land has been acquired for upgradation of the 132 KV sub-station located at Yurembam to 400 KV sub-station Phungzathang Tonsing also announced that prepaid electricity meter would be introduced in the Northeastern States.

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