Chizokho Vero
August 11
KOHIMA (MExN): The 24 Mega Watt Likimro Hydel Electricity Project which had ceased to function since 2002 is reportedly under the process of revival.
Power Secretary Temjen Toy told The Morung Express that the restoration work was going on in full swing. The Secretary disclosed that one machine would be ready for commissioning by the end of August. He also stated that the entire process of revamp and revival was expected to be completed by the end of September.
It is learnt that the total amount required for revival of the project is estimated at Rs.20.25 crore.
This is inclusive of liabilities and all the remaining civil works and six months of operation and maintenance by contracting firm.
Till date, the total expenditure incurred on the project touched Rs. 216.88 crore. Out of this, Rs 181. 77 crore has been spend on generation, Rs. 34.11 crore on transmission and Rs. one crore on urgent civil works.
Nagaland’s Governor Shyamal Datta recently said the shut down of Likimro Hydel project had undermined the State’s power generation capacity.
For the revival of the Likimro HEP, the department has made a revised proposal of Rs. 717.00 lakhs out of which, Rs. 600.00 lakh has been earmarked for the year 2005-06.
Likimro HEP was technically commissioned on December 2, 2001 and it was inaugurated on February 12, 2002. However, due to mechanical failures the two machines which had been installed could not run after September 2002.
Sources said the defects in the machine, could not be attended to, due to the lack of expertise in the concerned department.
Apart from the technical problems, another constraints faced was with regard to the geographical location. “As far as functions are concerned it has been difficult for the project officers and staff mainly due to the remoteness of the area”, a source said.
It was pointed out that unless this problem was addressed and a suitable system of functioning put in place, the project would continue to suffer and will not be able to produce the desired output.
Former Minster, Kewekhape Therie, MLA, when contacted regretted that enough attention had not been given to the Likimro project and that manpower was also not sufficient to sustain such a mega power project. Interestingly Therie also made the suggestion that the Likimro project ought to be privatized on lease basis.
