Experts suggest liberal fiscal policy to manage energy crisis in NE

Agartala, Sep 10 (UNI) Experts have prescribed a liberal financial policy from the Centre as well as intensifying exploration of resources to contain power shortage in the Northeastern region.

Speaking to UNI here today, Member(Planning) of Central Electricty Authority and Ex-officio Additional Secretary V S Verma said the entire engery sector had been suffering from misuse and mismanagement especially in the NE.

''Despite immense potential of electricity generation from natural gas and hydro power, entire NE has been reeling under severe energy crisis because the present installed capacity of NE states was only 1167 MW, 20 per cent less than the actual demand,'' Mr Verma said.

Referring to recommendation presented in a three-day conference on ''Northeast India - a Gateway to Southeast Asia'' here, Mr Verma said the installed capacity of the region was proposed to be enhanced to 2,500 MW within the 11th Five Year Plan to tide over the power shortage in the region.

He also opined that the NE could generate 40 per cent of the country's total hydro electricity. However, substantial investment was required in the sector which would only be possible if the Centre liberated financial policy for the NE states besides infrastructure development.

Mr Verma expressed concern over the misuse of power and underlined that the world could save at least three million KW power each day if a person saved at least one MW every day.

Presently, the per capita power consumption in India is only 600 units while it stands at only 230 units in NE. The Centre had planned to execute a comprehensive programme in the area of nuclear sciences involving a chain of activities and another technology being pursued by them was lasers and their applications, he added.

UNI