NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday emphasised on the need for tapping the hydro power potential of North-East states which could contribute to more development of the region and improve socio-economic condition of people there.
Union Minister of State for Power K C Venugopal called for concerted efforts from all quarters in tapping the power potential of the North-East considering the recent problems faced in power generation due to fuel shortage in the country.
The Minister was chairing a consultative committee of Members of Parliament for Ministry of Power at Shillong besides reviewing the work undertaken by the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO), a public sector undertaking of the Ministry of Power.
Maintaining that other than hydro-projects, the North Eastern region is rich in coal and gas reserves, Venugopal said, “Meghalaya has good coal reserves while Tripura and Assam are blessed with natural gas reserves which is a cleaner fuel.”
Stressing that the region can become the “Power House of India” in the years to come and can transform the socio-economic conditions of its people, the Minister said the region could contribute immensely to the development of the nation as a whole.The Minister further stated that the power sector development in North-Eastern Region calls for a further boost. (PTI)