NE to get 10 new power projects

NEW DELHI, March 13 ? Claiming that the Central Government has adopted an overall comprehensive strategy to develop the power sector in the North-east, Union Power Minister, Suresh Prabhu has outlined plans to set up 10 new power projects and to evacuate surplus power outside the region. The reason for the minister?s confidence in the ability to generate surplus, power in the region, currently reeling under acute power surplus, was North-east?s untapped hydro electric power (HEP) assessed at 58,971 MW, which accounts for 38 per cent of the country?s total assessed potential. As of now, however, only 927 MW of this potential has been developed. Sri Prabhu outlined his ministry?s strategy in the Rajya Sabha, here this morning during a question hour discussion, while responding to concern expressed by members over failure to develop the power sector in the region, despite it having a huge potential.

Members cutting across party lines also questioned the minister over the delay in executing the pending power projects in the region. The members also wanted the minister to draw up a specific time-frame for completion of the projects though Sri Prabhu managed to dodge it. The minister said he had taken stock of the situation in the region during his recent visit and that he proposed to visit North-east again in April to attend a meeting of the chief ministers convened to identify mini hydro projects. He said that he had already directed North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) to identify other opportunities to develop power sector in the region.

Responding to a question tabled by Mabal Rebello of Congress party, the minister held the adverse law-and-order situation responsible for the delay in execution of the projects in the region. He revealed that during the 10th Plan period 10 new projects would be taken up in the region. In Assam four projects including one in private sector are proposed to be set up, besides three projects in Meghalaya, two in Mizoram and one each in Tripura and Sikkim. In addition, NEEPCO and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) are also developing a few power projects in the region.