Shillong, June 26: The Regional Plan for the Power Sector was discussed on 26th June, 2014 at the NEC HQs under the chairmanship of Shri M P Bezbarua, Member, NEC. Officers from all States of the region i.e. NEEPCO, NERPC, CWC and PGCIL attended the meeting. The major issues brought out were in the generation stage wherein NEEPCO indicated that the Kameng power plant will be commissioned only in the month of March, 2017 against March, 2016 as earlier indicated. The holding up of Lower Subansiri power plant due to various social agitations was viewed with concern as this could have far reaching implications. There was a concern expressed by the States that the last mile connectivity where the power has to be evacuated have been left out in the over-all planning in various States. The States raised their concern regarding the transmission and distribution network of 66 and 33 KVA being handed-over to the PGCIL for execution which is against the policy.
A concern was raised by the PGCIL and other States regarding Indian Electricity Act wherein the purchase of land for the right of way for any transmission is not allowed and this is causing delays in the construction of transmission lines apart from the issue of forest clearance. A concern was expressed regarding the T and D losses which can be improved further by setting up the various power system improvements. The Member (B), NEC said that the schemes for such improvements can be clubbed together for the NER as a whole and the fund requirement can be projected to the Ministry of DONER for funding it through NLCPR. The NEC has taken a decision to fund the SLDCs during the Current Financial Year and the four States which do not have SCDCs were asked to submit their proposals in their priority list. This will reduce the burden to the users.
The NEC also indicated that RRE projects should be given priority in the remote areas where transmission of power through regular lines is not cost effective. A study will have to be undertaken to have the RRE potential examined which can be thought of funding centrally. The issue of frequent break downs in transmission lines where are single or two pole structures in the remote hilly localities due to natural calamities to the transmission lines where a single or two pole structures can be surveyed for preparation of a comprehensive scheme for conversion of such pole to towers.
Ameising Luikham, Secretary, NEC also reviewed the on-going power projects in North Eastern States. NEC has been funding the Hydro Power Projects in past but at present NEC is funding only under the system improvement schemes in NE States that include construction of transmission lines, augmentation and improvement of existing transmission and distribution system, construction of 33kv express lines, construction of sub-stations, renovation and modernization of sub-stations, electrification of tribal villages etc. There are 61 NEC funded projects which were discussed in the meeting. Secretary NEC asked the State Governments to complete the projects within the time frame.
NEC is funding 8 projects in Arunachal Pradesh, 2 in Assam, 8 in Manipur, 14 in Meghalaya, 10 in Mizoram, 7 in Nagaland, 8 in Sikkim and 4 in Tripura. The estimated cost of the projects is Rs. 49904.62 lakhs. NEC has so far released an amount of Rs. 31248.86 lakhs for the States. (SP News)
