Meghalaya inks power projects with NEEPCO

Shillong, Dec 29 (UNI) Meghalaya government has inked two Memoranda of Agreements (MoAs) to implement power projects with North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd (NEEPCO), a senior government official said today.

The two MoAs were signed on December 20 between the government and NEEPCO to implement the 90-MW Mawphu hydroelectric project and 500-MW Garo Hills thermal power project.

The MoAs were signed at the initiative of Union Power Ministry and state government, NEEPCO Deputy Manager Lorreta A Kharmawphlang said.

Incidentally, this is NEEPCO's first project in Meghalaya.

Ms Kharmawphlang said the Detailed Project Report has been submitted for the 90-MW Mawphu project to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) in March this year.

The project would have two generating units of 45 MW capacities each and plans to utilise of water of the Umiew River near Sohra in East Khasi Hills district.

Similarly, the 500-MW Garo Hills thermal power project envisages utilizing coal from Simsang and Darrengiri coalfields in an environment-friendly manner.

NEEPCO believes that the two projects would usher many socio-economic benefits for the people.

It would also provide direct and indirect employment opportunities for the locals.

Meanwhile, the United Democratic Party (UDP), an ally of the ruling Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, termed the government's decision to hand over five power projects to private companies as a ''hasty deal.'' The party alleged that most of the ministers in the Cabinet opposed the deal.

Urging the government to out rightly scarp the deal, the UDP said the ''antecedents of the private companies.'' Mr Lanong also raised questions on the terms and conditions of the MoU signed between the state government and private companies saying they were 'ambiguous'.

UNI