State inks hydro-electric projects deal with NEEPCO

IMPHAL, August 28: In a major development, the State government has signed a pre-implementation agreement for four hydroelectric projects in Manipur with the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd today at the Hotel Imphal.

The agreement was signed between joint secretary Power, Th Kirankumar and Manipur State Power Corporation Ltd MD A Sarat representing the State and chairman and managing director NEEPCO PC Pankaj and director personnel S Borgohai representing NEEPCO.

The projects are Tuivai Electric Project, Irang Hydroelectric Project, Khongnem Chakha Hydroelectric Project and the Pabram Hydroelectric Project.

State Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who also attended the agreement signing function said Manipur has been facing an acute shortage of power for quite some time.

This is because of several reasons including the increasing supply-demand gap, insufficient inter and intra transmission and distribution network, huge losses incurred during transmission and other commercial losses, he said.

This frequent load shedding schedule in the State has been one of the major obstacles to development, the Chief Minister asserted.

Continuing further, he said following a detailed study of the problem, the State government in its effort to improve the power sector had recently restructured the State Electricity department into the Manipur State Power Company Limited (MSPCL) to look after the transmission and distribution of 33 KV voltage level and above and upcoming generations and the Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (MSPDCL) to look after the distribution system of 11 KV and down and other associated works.

The State government had also adopted a State Hydro Power Policy in 2012 to facilitate development of hydro power projects having capacity of more than 5 MW through private and public sectors in the State, Ibobi continued.

Further in his speech, the Chief Minister appealed to NEEPCO to work smoothly without taking much time to complete the projects and added the government will extend all possible help including in checking the law and order situation or in getting forest clearance for the construction of the project.

The Chief Minister also appealed to the people of the State to co-operate with NEEPCO to realise the projects.

The Tuivai Electric Project will be taken up at Delhkai Thanlon in CCPur district about 230 km from Imphal with a 110 metre high earthen dam across the Tuivai River at an estimate cost of Rs 325.06 crore.

Irang Hydroelectric Project will be taken up at Taobam in Tamenglong district about 100 Km away from Imphal. A 104 metres high earthen dam across Irang River will be constructed for the project and it will have four numbers of Francis turbines of 15 MW each. The cost estimate of the project is Rs 331.20 crore.

Khongnem Chakha Hydroelectric Project will have two Francis turbines of 33.50 MW and will be taken up at Maram centre in Senapati district about 90 km away from Imphal.

The project will have a 52 metre high concrete gravity dam across Barak River and cost estimate of the project is Rs 439.71 crore.

The fourth project Pabram Hydroelectric Project will have two Francis turbines of 95 MW and will be taken up at Phellong Village in Tamenglong district about 160 Km away from Imphal.

The project will have a 122 metre high concrete gravity dam across Barak River and the cost estimate of the project is Rs 1031.67 crore.

PC Pankaj on his part assured both the State government and the people that NEEPCO will try its level best to complete the projects within the time schedule.

He said even though preparations of DPR of a project take minimum three years, his company will try to complete the DPRS for the four projects within 15 months with a five year target for completion of thewhole projects.

NEEPCO will also take up wind power plant generations in Manipur and after completion of the projects will provide proper toilet facilities to the schools in the nearby areas, he said.

NEEPCO will also provide scholarships to poor students of the area, he continued.

Today’s signing of the agreement was also attended by deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam.