SHILLONG: Ashok Das Gupta, an expert in power sector and a member of the Research Centre for Eastern and North Eastern Regional Studies, Kolkata (CENERS-K) has lamented that only one per cent of the total installed capacity of power in the North Eastern region is available now.
Talking to media persons on the eve of a programme on Power scenario in Northeastern Region, present situation and action plan for better future which is scheduled to be held on Friday in NEC, Gupta said that the total installed capacity of power generation in the region was 3.5 lakh megawatts but till now only one percent of it is available in the region.
He also said that per capita consumption of power in the country is around is 1200 kw and the country is trying to increase it to 3000 kw and once again the per capita consumption of power in Northeastern region is between 600-700 kw
Stating that the Industrial requirement for power in the region has not taken the shape like in other states, he stressed on the need for the region to have an action plan
“ The region will have to harness its resources,” he said even as he added that the Northeastern region is an ideal place for de-centralised power . He said when the government talked about electrification of villages in the country, they usually electrify two/three houses in the village
The one-day meeting will be attended by Power Minister of Meghalaya besides experts in the power sector and the conference will mainly focus on how to improve the power scenario in the region.