SHILLONG, APR 10: Meghalaya, a power-deficient state is expected to generate a total of 1659.05 mega watts from as many as 15 power projects and submission of detailed project reports (DPRs) for most of these projects have been completed.
These include 10 hydro power projects, two thermal power projects and three new and renewable energy projects.
The hydro power projects are Kynshi Stage-I (270 MW), Kynshi Stage-II (325MW), Rangmaw (65MW), Mawphu ( 85MW), Upper Khri Stage-I (15MW), Upper Khri Stage-II (10MW), Nongummer (18MW), Umlun (50KW), Umran (10MW) and Mawrap (1MW).
While the two thermal projects include one at Nongalbibra, South Garo Hills for 240 MW and another at Darugiri, East Garo Hills of 500 MW, the renewable energy projects include at Byrnihat (24MW), Ampati (48 MW) and Mendipathar (48MW).
Replying in the Assembly here on Tuesday, Power Minister James K Sangma informed that the total installed capacity of these projects is 1659.05 MW.
Giving the status of these projects, Sangma said for the DPR for the Kynshi Stage-I is completed and Techno-Economic Clearance (TEC) accorded by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) adding land acquisition for the project is under progress.
He however said that survey and investigation works for the Kynshi Stage-II project are in an advanced stage.
According to him, due to presence of Uranium deposits in the Reservoir Area, preparation of DPR is held up. Clearance was received from UCIL in December 2014.
“The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) Government of India has asked for mining and removal of the Uranium deposits in the Reservoir area before implementation of the project,” Sangma informed.
On Rangmaw project, the minister said that survey and investigation works are in progress and developer has requested for revised domain since project is not feasible within the allotted elevations.
A joint visit with Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited being arranged to verify the claims the developer, he added.
The survey and investigation works for Mawphu however was taken up in September 2012 and the DPR is under appraisal CEA and the TEC from CEA is awaited.
The DPRs for both Upper Khri stage I and II have been submitted to the government for TEC in January 2016 and the same are under appraisal by the MeECL, he said.
While Umlum project was commissioned in 2015, Sangma said the DPRs for Nongummer and Umran (both small HE projects) have been submitted to the power department in February 2016 for TEC and the DRPs are under appraisal by IIT, Roorkie.
However, survey and investigation and DPR preparation works are in progress for Mawrap mini hydel project.
Meanwhile on the thermal power projects, the power minister informed that the DRP for the thermal power project at Nongalbibra has been completed and application for environmental clearance was submitted to Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF).
“The draft lease agreement for transfer of land already acquired by the government is under finalization,” he said.
He further informed that the project site for the other thermal project has been identified at Darugiri adding that the bids for coal linkage has been finalized and lease of land for cola mining is under progress.
The minister also admitted that the NGT ban on coal mining in the state has also had its impact on the implementation of these proposed thermal power projects when the issue was raised by Congress legislator from East Shillong Ampareen Lyngdoh.
“But hopefully a resolution will be brought in the House and hope that the ban will be lifted so that these kind of projects may not face such difficulties,” he said.
With regards to the new and renewable projects, Sangma said the financial closure for the renewable technology (closed loop vertical turbine) projects at Byrnihat, Ampati and Mendipathar are in progress.
It may be mentioned here that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in his report for the year ending March 31, 2016, had pointed out that the state could harness only 10.49 per cent of its 3,000 MW hydro potential.
By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours