Asom for mini hydel-projects by private org

Guwahati, Mar 17: Suffocating under acute shortage of power, Asom government has planned to promote setting up of mini-hydel power projects either by community or private organisations.

Addressing a press conference, state power and industry minister Pradyut Bardoloi today said the state government had adopted 'Small Hydel Policy' thereby throwing open the field of small hydro power development to private enterprise.

As per the polic, these projects with generation capacity upto 25 MW could be taken up anywhere in the state and up to 90 per cent of the project cost could be reimbursed besides other incentives that would be made available as per the yet to be announced new North East Industrial Policy 2007.

The state's first hydro-power project, the Karbi Langpi Project, had become fully operational.

Another 100 MW project would be formally inaugurated by Chief Minisyer Tarun Gogoi on April sixth. The project had faced several hurdles since its inception of its plan since last 27 years.

Mr Bardoloi said there was a huge demand for cheap hydro power in the state, that produces only 200 MW against its peak hour demand for 800 MW, adding that setting up of such projects would go a long way in mitigating power crisis besides reducing the power import bill of state electricity board.

UNI