'Meghalaya-NEEPCO to ink MoU on 4 power proj'

Shillong, Jun 29: Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde today announced that an MoU will be signed between Meghalaya government and North East Electrical Power Corporation (NEEPCO) for setting up power projects in the state.

The projects to be developed are 720 MW Nangalbibra and 230 MW West Khasi Hills thermal power project, 90 MW Mawphu and 1000 Kynshi hydropower projects, Mr Shinde told reporters in a meeting on the power perspective plan in the state.

Chief Minister D D Lapang, Deputy Chief Minister Mukul M Sangma, Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee alongwith senior NEEPCO officials attended the meeting.

The power minister, however, did not disclose as when the MoU would be inked.

Mr Shinde said the Centre had agreed to allocate an additional 25 per cent Mega Watt supply to combat the power crisis in the state.

''The entire country is facing the problem of power shortage and we are exploring all the possibilities of both hydel and thermal power projects to resolve the power crisis,'' he said.

Asked about people opposing construction of dams in the region, the Union Minister said, ''We will continue to sit with them to sort out their problem. We won't push any project without the consent of the people''.

''All the affected persons due to construction of dams in the North eastern region would be rehabilitated as per the government norms,'' he assured.

Meanwhile, Dr Mukul M Sangma said the state government would call for private parties to invest in the power projects below 100 MW.

UNI