Khandu for concrete vision and roadmap for APEDA

Itanagar, June 29 (PTI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu today called for a concrete vision and roadmap for Arunachal Pradesh Energy Development Agency (APEDA) in channelising non-conventional energy for public consumption. Chairing the general body meeting of APEDA, the chief minister said the agency has a big role in implementation of UJALA – UnnatJyoti by Affordable LEDs for All– scheme in the state, which will launched soon, an official release said. APEDA was instituted in 1996 through a Memorandum of Association. Expressing concern over the failure percentage of small and mini hydro projects implemented by APEDA, Khandu stressed for a comprehensive policy to run the projects successfully after commissioning, the release said. It was informed during the meeting that only 30 such hydro projects are functioning today out of the 100-odd projects implemented. The main causes for defunct projects were cited as lack of skilled manpower, high maintenance cost, lack of revenue generation and scarcity of spare parts, the release said. Khandu also advised APEDA to focus on tapping wind and solar energy. State power minister Tamiyo Taga also attended the meeting. PTI