280 MW of power an answer to State’s growing power concerns
SHILLONG: Buoyed by the successful execution of Stage I of the ambitious Myntdu-Leshka Hydro Electric project, the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) is now working on the detailed project report (DPR) of Stage II of the project.
MeECL Engineer Elias Lyngdoh on Tuesday informed that the DPR would be prepared by December 2015.
It is expected that construction of the proposed Stage II would be a cheaper affair as most of the infrastructure for the new stage is already available at the site.
Lyngdoh informed that the land acquisition process would start only after environmental clearance is accorded to Stage II of the project.
Stage II of the MLHEP would have four units with a capacity of 70 MW each and would generate 280 MW of power. It is expected that once the Stage II is commissioned, Meghalaya’s energy deficiencies would be addressed for good.
Meanwhile, the State Government is also in the process of obtaining environmental clearance from the Union Government for the proposed 240 MW Umngot Power project which is likely to be handed over to Jaypee Group.
The State Government is contemplating to hand over the project to Jaypee Group as it fears that MeECL may not be able to execute the project ‘due to various reasons’.
The project is facing stiff opposition from anti-dam activists and locals who fear that the proposed project would submerge their villages.
The estimated budget of the Umngot project would be around Rs.1700 crore and would cover an area of 390 hectares straddling both West Jaintia Hills and East Khasi Hills districts.