By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Meghalaya is expected to become a power surplus State by 2014, State Additional Chief Secretary BK Dev Varma claimed on Wednesday.
“The State is expected to be surplus in power considering the increase in its own power generation with the commissioning of the three units of the Myntdu-Leshka Hydel Project. Besides increasing its own generation of power, another factor which would largely contribute to the power scenario in the State is the increase in the share from the various Central power projects in the coming two years,” Varma said while speaking to reporters here on Wednesday.
Stating that the power available in the State is expected to touch 1000 MW by 2014, he said that the demand for power for both domestic and industrial uses would increase to around 900 MW in two years. At present the State is generating around 227 MW which includes 42 MW of power from the first unit of the Myntdu-Leshka project which was recently commissioned, Varma said, adding that with the commissioning of the second and third unit of the project within June, the total power generation in the State would go up to 301 MW.
He also informed that the State would be getting its share of power from the various power projects in the region including the Palatana Hydel Project in Tripura.
Varma also informed that the State is currently spending between Rs 230 and Rs 240 crore annually for purchasing power.
“As of now the total demand for power in the domestic purposes is 160 MW while the requirement of power for industries and other commercial purposes is around 450 MW,” Varma added.