SHILLONG: Meghalaya’s Power Minister Comingone Ymbon who was recently inducted in the Mukul Sangma-led government, stated the state had a long way to go to attain self-sufficiency in power generation in spite of having many power stations.
“The existing power capacity available from own generation and central power sector share amounts to 634 MW only,” he said while speaking at the conference on Energising North East on Tuesday at State Convention Centre organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.
“However, with the commissioning of New Umtru Hydel Electric Project of 40 MW commercially with effect from July 1, 2017, the total existing power capacity will be enhanced to 734 MW,” he added.
He pointed out that only 11 per cent of the state’s estimated power potential of 3000 MW had been tapped so far.
However, he said, “With the commissioning of Myntdu Leshka Hydro Electric Project and the facility of power swapping, the whole scenario of power equation in the state has changed,” adding that the power availability in the state has improved and the state was able to surrender some of the costlier central power share.
Under solar energy programme, the government of Meghalaya in collaboration with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is distributing the Solar Home Lighting System, Solar Street Lighting System, Solar lanterns, solar water heating system and solar power plant.
Ymbon stated that the modernisation, upgradation and renovation of Umiam Stage I and Stage II had completed and more were in the pipeline.
Pointing to the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) developed by the Central Ministry of Power to promote energy efficiency in the building sector, Pankaj Kumar, secretary of Bureau of Energy Efficiency, informed that he would speak to officials of the Urban Affairs Department with regard to the strategy of ECBC in the state.
The ECBC was launched in 2007 as there was need to have suitable policies and programmes for building efficiency. The state government was given the mandate to enforce ECBC after it had been made mandatory.