Sanctioned: Rs.1797.43cr IPDS projects
Power Minister R K Singh has assured the State Governments of North East region of New Delhi support in developing hydro-projects for which Rs.1797.43 crore have been sanctioned under Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS).
North-Eastern India has a huge hydro potential and the State Governments have a major role in hydro-projects by way of facilitating land acquisition and implementing the resettlement & rehabilitation plans, he noted.
Singh assured full support for development of hydro-power in the region and called upon all stakeholders to work in close coordination so as to optimally harness the hydro potential.
Development of hydro projects in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh had contributed to the prosperity of those States. Similarly, NE States can reap long term benefits out of developed hydro projects, he pointed out.
“Development of North-Eastern India is on high priority of the Union Government and a well-developed power sector is prerequisite to the economic development in these States”, said Singh.
However, he cautioned that concerted efforts will have to be made to make the system sustainable.
“In order to redeem our pledge for 24/7 power, we will have to reduce the losses and make the DISCOMS viable,” said the Minister during a meeting of Chief Secretaries and Principal Secretaries of Power of North-Eastern States in Guwahati on 27 august 2019.
Singh cited example of some of States which had huge commercial losses but have been able to bring down the losses to 15% or below.
He urged NE States to adopt smart and prepaid meters to avoid power theft. He assured all the assistance from the Central Government to State Governments in creating power infrastructure in NE States.
The Minister further stated that grant for Central Government schemes will be made available to only those states who undertakes reforms, viz, reduction of losses etc.
During the meeting, the Minister reviewed various power sector schemes & projects under implementation in the North-Eastern States, such as, (IPDS), Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), Pradhan Mantri Sahaj BijliHarGhar Yojana (Saubhagya) and R-APDRP.
He noted the gaps and directed concerned agencies to speed up the completion of pending work and advised State Governments to extend necessary help in getting statutory clearances.
The meeting also witnessed a power purchase agreement signing between Government of Arunachal Pradesh and NHPC Limited for supply of power from 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project. fiinews.com
