Dimapur, Nov 9 (MExN): Nagaland power chiefs have objected strongly to the state government’s handing over of hydro-electric projects to central power sector agencies since these entities are concerned only in doing business “with us using our own infrastructure and natural resources…similar to the then erstwhile East India Company”. Another serious matter highlighted was that the state government’s failure to meet proposed/adequate financial proposal for upkeep of power infrastructure is responsible for the now-customary blackouts in the state.
These were highlighted in a memorandum forwarded to the Chief Minister of Nagaland by the Association of Power Engineers Nagaland (APEN). In the memo also includes demand for enhancement of transmission and distribution capabilities, enhanced fund release for upkeep, and redress of frequent protocol hassles in procurement/availability of electrical maintenance materials. The memo is attested by the association’s President Er. TS Angami and General Secretary Er. Tiameren Walling.
In contrast to the general belief that Nagaland is blessed with immense hydro power potential, there are in fact only a few potential sites, the APEN contented while giving reasons that this is due to the fact that most of the state’s rivers are rain-fed rivers which run dry in winter. It apprised of three projects under the PM’s 50,000 MW programme: 150MW at Tizu-Zungki, 120 MW at Dikhu HEP and 35MW at Yangyu HEP. The association observed that handing over these projects to NEEPCO, NHPC would amount to giving away the state’s very limited water resources if the Doyang Hydro Electric project is to be cited as an example. The DHEP was executed with a MoU with NEEPCO with 12% free power to Nagaland. “Sadly, further insights show that this so-called 12% free power component is also incorporated in the tariff calculation of the project and is borne by all the constituents of the North Eastern states in order to compensate this free power” stated that APEN.
The engineers are convinced that “it is beyond doubt that the central sector agencies are here to do business with us using our own infrastructure and natural resources without any stake holding of the state and its people similar to the then erstwhile East India Company”. The APEN also opined that scope for power availability and commercial viability of the state power sector lies in having its own internal generation so the aforementioned three projects are therefore to be the ‘lifeline for survival’ of the state power sector.
The association also called for a ‘perspective plan’ for transmission and distribution enhancement to the extent of 200MW within the next 2-3 years. According to the APEN the present peak power demand of the state is 75 MW which ‘the existing system is just able to handle’.
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) peak demand forecast by the end of the 11th plan is 152 MW for Nagaland. However, the power department forecast stands at 200 MW taking into account requirement from the policies of departments of Industries & Commerce, Geology & Mining, Bamboo Mission and normal load growth. This, the association informed is a huge challenge to meet. It informed that the Planning Commission recommended 1129 Crore for Nagaland’s power sector in the 10th plan. However, only 799 Crore was allocated by the state leaving a shortfall of 330 Crore. This gap created in the development of infrastructure would be difficult to recover even in the 11th plan, the APEN stated.
Further, the association informing that it has submitted a proposal amounting to Rs 478 Lakhs for 2006-2007 under Non-Plan, Operation & Maintenance, called for expediting release of the same. The existing assets of the department are valued at about Rs 810 Crore. On carrying out a study the minimum annual requirement was projected Rs 844 Lakhs for upkeep of the assets. However, the department proposed only 440 Lakhs during 2005-2006, which was not provided. This fund crunch has led to dilapidation and breaking down of power equipments and machineries due to ageing and lack of timely maintenance to the extent that machineries have to be recycled and reconditioned for emergencies.
The association also stated that execution of works depends greatly on availability of materials and therefore timely procurement of the same are vital. However, on many occasions the process experienced delay hampering power works, the APEN lamented. It requested that the procurement process be done promptly. Also, while appreciating the implementation of cadre review of the department by the government in 2004, the association informed that the department had recently submitted a proposal for creation of few divisions covering ‘some’ new districts. It requested that the matter be examined and expedited.
