NE power ministers seek PM's intervention on power development

Itanagar, Aug 22 (UNI) The power ministers of North Eastern states have decided to seek the Prime Minister's intervention to remove various hindrances in exploration, transmission and distribution of hydropower in the region.

Sources here today said the ministers in the fourth North Eastern Power Coordination Committee (NERPC) meeting in the state capital yesterday will approach the Centre to allocate power from Kuichu and Tala hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh to Asom on long term basis.

They further said Asom being located in the down stream of Bhutan was facing all burden of floods.

The meeting would urge the union power ministry to enhance the allocation to at least 60 per cent to Asom from upcoming 750 MW Bongaigaon thermal power station (TPS) and 700 MW Palatana Tripura Gas based Project.

They would also approach the Centre to treat transmission network (existing and upcoming) of 400 KV and above for NE as national assets to firm power from thermal power stations of other regions.

The meeting resolved to provide firm allocation of at least 500 MW from upcoming ultra mega power projects.

The reserve 50 per cent power should be allocated to NE states from Subansiri and Kameng hydro electric projects in Arunachal Pradesh, they demanded.

The ministers also demanded to provide 90 per cent grant and 10 per cent loan for the transmission charges paid by the NE to Central Transmission Utility.

They would also approach the petroleum and gas ministry for supplying gas to gas-based generating stations at concessional price as applicable to NE States besides availability of gas as per sanctioned quantum, sources added.

UNI