By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 11: Power Minister AT Mondal said the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the Central Water Commission, the Geological Survey of India, and the Central Soil and Materials Research Station have cleared 12 of the 14 chapters against the 3×70 MW Myntdu-Leshka Stage-II Hydroelectric Project.
The review and clearance for each chapter – a technical term for permission – was according to the CEA’s guidelines issued in August 2022.
Delivering the keynote address at the 25th North-Eastern Regional Power Committee (NERPC) meeting in Kolkata, Mondal said the remaining two chapters are likely to be cleared soon. “This is a commendable milestone, and it underscores our commitment to harnessing clean and sustainable energy sources,” he added.
The event, organised by NTPC under the aegis of the Ministry of Power’s CEA, brought together key stakeholders to discuss and strategise the future of the power sector in the Northeast. It was graced by the power ministers of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Tripura, each providing valuable insights into the unique challenges and opportunities in their respective states.
Earlier, Mondal shed light on the challenges and opportunities in the power sector specific to Meghalaya. His speech emphasised the commitment to sustainable and inclusive development, highlighting the importance of collaboration among the northeastern states for the collective advancement of the region.
The meeting deliberated upon the issues of the power sector in the Northeast and several recommendations were made to strengthen the power sector and ensure it remains reliable, efficient, and economical.
Mondal was offered the chairmanship of the forum by Chowna Mein, Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh and the Chairman of NERPC. He declined the offer and suggested that the Chairman of NERPC should also be the Chairman of the forum to avoid any conflict of interest in the future.
The recommendation was welcomed and agreed to by the other members of the committee.
The NERPC also expressed the need for the restoration of financial incentives provided by the Centre to set up small hydro projects, which were stopped in 2019, and the extension of possible technical and financial support so that power generation is augmented optimally in the northeastern states.
The proposal of setting up a 132/33KV 2×25 MVA substation at Nongpoh was also approved by the CEA.