The North Eastern Regional Electricity Board (NEREB) has decided to work out uniform power tariff for the entire region, besides sharing power on “equitable basis.”
The NEREB took these decisions at its 26th meeting held here on Aug. 22.
The establishment of hydro electric research stations in the north-eastern region which is necessary for facilitating future development of hydro power in the region was recommended at the meeting.
With central projects being commissioned in the region, and because of the need to ensure regular flow of power within the region, the Board felt that a uniform tariff for inter-state exchange of power was inevitable.
Due to disparity in the availability of power in the region, the Board felt that sharing of available power on equitable basis should be strictly followed by the states and union territories.
Since rural electrification schemes are not remunerative, the Board recommended that REC loans should be converted as out-right grant-in-aid.
To make the cost of generation of power by the central projects comparatively reasonable, the Board recommended to the Centre to provide transport subsidy for all power projects in the region.
The Board also recommended the taking up on a priority basis the 132 KV line connecting Sumer and Mawlai as this would facilitate useful utilization of the power generated in the central sector.
On the previous day, the Technical Co-ordination Committee Meeting was also hold. Those who attended were the chief engineers of the constituent States and Union territories. The members of the Bard expressed happiness on the re-commissioning of the Loktak and the commissioning of the Khahdong Power House. They felt this would give much relief to the power crisis in the region.
Besides the power minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura, the others who attended the meeting were the member (power system, Central Electricity Authority, the Secretary, North Eastern Council, the Chairman, NEEPCO, the chairmen of the electricity boards of Assam and Meghalaya, the Special Secretary of Power, Meghalaya, and the chief engineers from the respective states from the North Eastern Region.
Representatives from Loktak and National Hydro Power Corporation and other connected departments also participated in the meeting. The Secretary Power, West Bengal also attended as one of the invitees.