Meghalaya cabinet approves NEEPCO power project

Shillong, Dec 8 (UNI) The Meghalaya cabinet has approved to sign the 90 MW Mawphu hydropower project deal with North East Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO), according to official sources today.

The government has also decided to undertake six other hydro-power projects as joint venture with major private companies under Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) system.

Deputy Chief Minister Mukul M Sangma, who also holds the power portfolio, said the Cabinet yesterday approved allotment of the Mawphu hydro-electricity project to NEEPCO.

''Except the Mawphu project, the rest six will be executed as JVs with power sector companies under BOT system for 40 years. After which the projects will be handed over to the state electricity board,'' Dr Sangma said.

He said the Kynshi Stage-I would be taken up by Athena Project Private Limited, Kynshi Stage-II and Umngot project by JP Group, Leshka Stage-II by SEW Energy Limited and Simsang Basin by Seven Sisters Energy Limited.

The Cabinet also decided that the state government and ETA Star Infrastructure Limited would jointly undertake two other projects of 57 MW and 69 MW in the Umiew river.

Meghalaya State Electricity Board (MeSEB) had been made a ''nominee'' to take back the projects after the end of the BOT period.

Dr Sangma said the state would earn a revenue of Rs 200 crore annually within the first 12 years of executing all the power projects.

UNI