2 days ago
- Business
- United News of India
Meghalaya has made progress in execution of hydro projects: Minister
Shillong, July 4 (UNI) Meghalaya Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal said the state government has made progress towards execution of different hydroelectric projects to meet state's power requirements.
Mondal said the government is proposing to revive the Kynshi hydroelectric project and securing the clearance for setting up the 210-MW Leshka Stage-II hydroelectric project.
In 2022, the government had decided to cancel the agreement signed with Athena Power Pvt Ltd and the JayPee Group for the construction of 270MW Kynshi Stage 1 and 325MW Kynshi Stage 2 hydro projects after the power developers expressed their inability to move forward with the project.
Mondal said the government is optimistic in reviving the long-stalled Kynshi hydro power project to its original Run-of-River (RoR) configuration after years of uncertainty and delay to enhance power requirement in the state.
The implementation of the Kynshi project, originally awarded to M/s Athena Pvt Ltd, was delayed due to lack of provisions in the state's power policy to convert the project into a hybrid model, combining RoR and Pump Storage Project (PSP)
'The old MoU (memorandum of understanding) was based only on the run-of-river model. As they wanted to add the PSP component, and since our earlier power policy didn't include PSP, the cabinet decided to scrap the old MoU. Now, they want to revert to the original RoR model without the PSP. So, we'll have to take it to cabinet again to reinstate the old MoU,' Mondal said.
He clarified that no fresh MoU has been signed yet, but the government plans to revive the old one.
On Thursday, members of the Joint Committee of Local People on Kynshi Hydro Power Project (JCLPKHPP) met Mondal and demanded that the state government expedite the implementation of the Kynshi project.
'The most important thing is that the local people from those areas now want to cooperate with the government and the agency that will execute the project. I am very optimistic because we need more power generation. Without generation, we cannot enhance our power position,' the Power Minister said.
With regard to the Rs 2,100 crore Leshka hydro power project stage-II, Mondal said the final hurdle in the project is expected to be cleared this year.
'The 210 MW RoR project has already cleared 11 out of 12 chapters, including environment and forest clearances, required for its implementation. The remaining chapter is the most critical and challenging one,' he said while expressing optimism that the project will be cleared by the end of the year.
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