Power sector close to my heart, says Mukul
SHILLONG: The State government will provide micro grid system in some villages where power will be generated using renewable resources and energy thus saved will be routed to industries, said Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.
“We have identified certain villages in the state where there is a possibility of them being delinked from the main grid after they are provided with renewable power,” Sangma said while addressing a national seminar under the theme “Power Sector – Its Impact on Economic Growth and Industrial Development” here on Thursday.
He also informed that a proposal in the connection has already been sent to the Centre for approval.
Stating that industrialization depends on how reliable the power generation is, Sangma said that as the State embarks on new programmes, every project is linked to availability of energy and informed about the Micro Grid System which would be linked to the generation of power to the far-flung villages.
The two-day seminar is being organized by the Shillong Commerce College in collaboration with NEEPCO.
Stating that power sector has been something which has been close to his heart, the Chief Minister admitted that after the introduction of the Electricity Act, 2003 in India, the State has not been able to keep up with the mandates of the Act.
Speaking as the guest of honour at the seminar, the State Chief Secretary, PBO Warjri said that Meghalaya was the only State that came into being as a power-surplus State but with the phase of time and with the growth of industries, more demand for power was realized.
Warjri said that hydel power is the main source of power generation for the State and that it was high time that the State seriously look for alternative sources of power supply like the thermal power as coal is abundant across the State.
Earlier, the Chairman, Meghalaya State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Anand Kumar, delivered the keynote address. (With inputs from PTI)