SHILLONG: The new Umtrew Hydro Power project will start commercial operation from April 2016. This was informed by senior engineer of the MeECL, Elias Lyngdoh here on Friday.
The MeECL official also reiterated that the project will be completed by December 2015.
The Umtrew Hydro Power project, once commissioned would add 40 MW of power to the State’s kitty. The estimated budget of the project is around Rs 460 crore. A new dam has also been constructed over the Umtrew river in Byrnihat in addition to the existing old dam for the project.
Reacting to a query on the delay in completion of the project, Lyngdoh said there was a court case involving the land earmarked for the project which stopped the construction work for a year.
Issuance of fresh directions by the Central Water Commission for construction of the dam following the catastrophe in Uttarakhand further delayed the project, the MeECL official said.
While the old Umtrew project generated a mere 11.2 MW of power the new project is expected to generate 40 MW of much needed power for a State which stares at load shedding every winter.
It has been learnt that a unique feature of the project lies in the fact that it can produce a good amount of power even during the lean season since it has access to a greater catchment area.
Given the current power scenario in Meghalaya, the timely completion of the project would come as a relief of sorts.