GUWAHATI: Meghalaya has launched the Hydroger Mission under the Decentralised Green Energy Project with a financial outlay of Rs 11.55 crore with support from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund.
As many as 220 hydroger projects being set up under the Hydroger Mission, will encompass the whole of Meghalaya which has nearly 75 per cent deficit in power generation, informs a statement from NABARD here on Tuesday.
A hydroger is a big dynamo-type generator of electricity that can produce power at an installed capacity of 3-5 kilowatts from water running down a stream. Water from the spring source is stored in a check dam which is part of the project and then directed to the hydel ramp pump and hydroger for providing drinking water and clean energy.
The Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) which is overseeing the project hopes to take the total number of such projects to nearly 2000 over the next few years with total financial commitment of over Rs 100 crore.
“The Northeast comes with unique geological challenges. Installation of regular power grids and transmission infrastructure in such areas is a huge capital intensive proposition, something which a small state like Meghalaya can ill afford. The Hydroger Mission aims to address these key challenges,” Meghalaya chief minister, Conrad K. Sangma said.
“I am happy to share that NABARD has emerged as one of our important partners in the growth story of Meghalaya and RIDF has been a critical part of this collaboration,” he said.
Each such unit has the power to provide clean drinking water to a small hamlet of 50-60 houses besides lighting street lights. Among other benefits include enhanced productivity of small poultry and dairy units, scope for setting up micro paddy thresher units on community basis besides utilisation of excess run-off water for irrigation by farmers in the catchment area.
Moreover, the hydrogers will be fabricated in Meghalaya, giving the manufacturing sector a boost.
