New Delhi, June 16 (MExN): MLA and Advisor (Power) Tovihoto Ayemi along with senior officers from the Department of Power presented the technical requirements of the State to RK Singh, Union Minister of State for Power and New Renewable Energy in New Delhi on June 15.
According to a press release from PRO (IPR) Nagaland House, New Delhi, Kuolie Mere, the team received “a very positive response.”
It said that the Union Minister assured to give “top priority” for overall power development in Nagaland. He also stressed that all norms have to be followed while implementing various power projects in the State.
The Advisor (Power) had pointed out that the power sector in Nagaland had been ignored for so many years and there is a need to revamp and modernize it. For that, he conveyed, the State resources alone is insufficient to bring quick changes.
He further informed the Union Minister that the State has identified various hydro potential locations, but there are numerous challenges in development of hydro projects. One such reason was attributed to adequate funding pattern from the Government of India and thereby requiring gap funding support from NEC/DoNER, the release stated.
Tovihoto also submitted a letter from Chief Minister requesting the Union Minister to provide funding for few priority hydro projects in the State such as 42 mega watt Lower Tizu project, 24 mega watt Zungki project, and 2.1 mega watt Dzuna experimental model project.
In this regard, the Union Minister mentioned that the hydro projects cost need to be thoroughly examined through appropriate central agency, but gave assurance that necessary support will be extended, the release added.
Further, Tovihoto also mentioned that conversion of the existing electro-mechanical meters to prepaid meters is the only solution to mitigate huge AT&C loss of the State and requested the Union Minister RK Singh to request DoNER Ministry to speed up the proposed pre-paid project covering 19 statutory and census towns. The Union Minister assured to put the project on fast track, the PRO said.
The release meanwhile informed that the Union Minister stated although the Aggregate Technical & Commercial losses (AT&C loss) in the State is now showing positive sign of improvement, the huge revenue loss has to be quickly controlled in important towns like Dimapur by engaging various stakeholders. He categorically asked to quickly improve the power system. He was quoted as saying that like other North Eastern States, the power sector in Nagaland should also be immediately corporatized to enable the State to avail various benefits from financial institutions.
