Al Ngullie
Dimapur | April 24
The Central government has assured to look into the request of the Government of Nagaland for additional allocation of power under “special dispensation.” And the signs are “positive” that the request would be taken up with due earnest for immediate dispensation if the assurances of senior officials from the Union Ministry of Power are anything to be considered.
And here is possible heartening news if the envisaged outcome is realized: the state government is mulling to demand greater power loaddage share for Nagaland from the Doyang Hydro Electric Project.
Parliamentary Secretary for Power Doshehe Y Sema met with senior officials of the Union Ministry of Power, in Delhi on April 19 and enlightened the Centre over the chronic power shortage in Nagaland. The request made by the parliamentary secretary is understood to be expected under a “special dispensation” package as reported earlier in this daily (The Morung Express, April 9, 2007). Nagaland is presently existing on about 13-14 MW out of the approximate requirement of 74-80 MW.
The parliamentary secretary expressed high hopes that the request would be approved. “We met with them and the meeting was positive. We requested them for the special allocation and whatever possible can be done (to address the power situation in Nagaland)” he said. “They were positive and we are fully confident” Sema informed adding that the Center’s response is being awaited.
Reeling under severe power crisis since last year due to “monsoon” and no respite in sight, the request was compelled. Parliamentary Secretary Sema said he along with officials including the Resident Commissioner, Delhi, met with the Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary of power. While making the request for “special dispensation” of additional power, the Union officials were also requested to address effective transmission as well as expedite the Rs 6-7 Crore IT-enabled power monitoring system being set in place in Nagaland. The system, an initiative undertaken under the Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (APDRP) is being instated to monitor all power operations including input and transmission regulation of electricity in the entire state. Sema had informed earlier that the system would renovate, modernize, update dated power plants, strengthen sub-transmission and distribution network including energy accounting and metering in the distribution circles. The APDRP proposal was accepted in 2006. The system is expected to become fully operational very soon this year.
Relative to the efforts to garner more power allocation, NEEPCO might be approached for apportioning greater power loaddage to the state. DHEP, although initially hyped to be the power-savior for this load-shedding-friendly state, turned out that its mother state could not even be allocated her due share. In all irony, although generated in her own land, Nagaland receives only about 12% of DHEP’s total output, Sema informed. (The output is directed to the national grid from where the state purchases the requisite). He said that the generated power should be had directly (from the state). Sema informed to meet the concern power officials to forward the said stipulation. Mention may be made here that DHEP is currently undergoing Phase-II and Phase-III overhauls for surplus power-generation explorations. It is informed to be nearing completion.
Meanwhile, Nagaland’s “monsoon” induced power crisis is expected to ease with a private corporation expressing willingness to invest in power. The investment will be made by the undisclosed corporation in particular to Phek’s Tizuzunki station (150 MW) and Dikhu station in Mon (140 MW). A MoU is expected to be signed within a week’s time highly-placed sources from the government said. A team of experts from the companies are already camping in the two sites “for investigations” and exploring the feasibilities for investment in the two projects.
Morung Express News
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