Three pumped storage projects feasible for Meghalaya, says Mondal

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 23, 2024

Power Minister AT Mondal said the government is vigorously working with the Ministry of Power for implementation of the pumped storage projects (PSPs) in the state.

Speaking to reporters, Mondal said, “We are very much interested in PSPs. As you are aware that we have to enter into an agreement with the NTPC for finding the feasibility of PSPs and accordingly NTPC has found out three power projects and we are working on it.”

Stating that PSPs are not like the run of the river projects, he said, “In the run of the river project, the established norm is there that the state government will be given 12% free power and 1% for local area development but as per PSP this is not available. So, we have to take a call for the interest of the state also that how we get benefited also, if power is produced in Meghalaya should also be benefited from that. So, now, chances of equity participation and all these things are in a very early stage as far as PSPs are concerned.”

“So, we are vigorously working with the Ministry of Power along with other states because this is not new for us only but also new for other states also. It is the new technology also, that’s why we are working on it and the moment things are in some stages, we will definitely let you know,” the minister said.

He said, “But we want that there should be participation either from the state utility, or from central utility or from private parties as far the development of the hydel power project is concerned other than PSPs and all these things.”

“We are really eager to see that some investment is there and power is being generated and the state is getting benefited because the way the demand is increasing at a rate of around 11 to 12% every year. So accordingly, our generation should also increase, we should not always dependent on the other utilities maybe it is Central or private, we should be self-sufficient, so accordingly we are working out to see and we want investment either form in Run of the river projects, we are very keen to see that some projects are taking of,” he added.

Asked, the minister said that Meghalaya is not facing any power deficit this year.

“We have not gone for load shedding. Whatever disruption is there, these disruptions are for natural causes. These disruptions are because of the old equipment, because of the old wires and everything. Because of that load shedding is there. Shutdown is there which sometimes may take maybe Saturday morning, you will get little bit annoyed because there is no power but that is the time, we feel that all the repair work should be taken care of, all the rehabilitation work should be taken care of, during Saturday morning hours and of these things, as no school colleges, most of the institutions and government offices are close on Saturday. Even in the transmission system also we are trying to see that this problem is mitigated because you can see there are long distribution lines with one substation and many distribution transformers are connected to that line,” he added.