By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 29: The Meghalaya government is keen to invite private investments in the hydropower sector with the added benefit of availing up to 13 per cent free power, even as it has started working on phase II of the Myntdu Leshka Hydro Electric Project (MLHEP).
Sanjay Goyal, Managing Director of Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL), on Friday said the government is going as per the resource adequacy plan, prepared by the Central Electric Authority, to generate more power in order to meet the state’s increasing demands.
“We are exploring some tie-ups for solar power and even for hydropower, as the DPR for the second phase of MLHEP is at an advanced stage,” he said.The first phase of MLHEP, which generates 126 MW of power, was commissioned in 2012.
As the state recently got a boost with the commissioning of the Ganol Hydro Power projects, it now wants to explore the possibility of working with a private developer to avail of the benefits of 13 per cent free power.
Goyal said the Pump Storage Project (PSP) will be beneficial for the developers as well as for the state, and negotiations are on with different agencies to see the kind of benefits which Meghalaya will get with the setting up of the PSP.
Stating that the idea of thermal projects has not been abandoned, Goyal said the government is hoping to receive some proposals once there is more clarity on the scientific mining of coal that has just started.
Meanwhile, the MeECL is confident that there will be no scheduled load shedding in Meghalaya throughout the festive season till March-April next year, as the state is now in a comfortable position and some tie-ups have also been made for the dry season.
Goyal said whatever disruptions are taking place are due to rain and the felling of trees, as turbulent weather often uproots the poles and snaps the conductors of MeECL.
Also, power is shut down at times due to the upgradation of infrastructure in terms of lines, replacement of poles and transformers, and even for charging new substations. “The impact of all these upgradations will be visible by next year,” Goyal said.
