Chizokho Vero
Kohima | May 23
Nagaland with present peak demand in power sector at 110 MW and projected to touch 400 MW by the end of the 12th plan, provided adequate transmission and distribution infrastructure is created and power is made available, is still yet to have its own state policy on power. The state is fully dependent on its share of power allocation from the central public sector undertaking such as NEPCO, NHPC and NTPC.
Nagaland Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Chairman Er. S.I. Longkumer said Nagaland which is yet to have any power policy is like reeling without direction which needs to be pondered upon with seriousness.
Nagaland’s Chief Secretary Lalthara IAS in his address at the 5th meeting of State Advisory Committee of NERC- cum- seminar stressed on the need to reform power sector in Nagaland at a time when people are feeling the pinch of erratic power supply. He also stressed on the need to give sufficient importance to the requirement of this sector in regards to budget allocation.
Expressing concern over power losses in Nagaland, he stressed on the need to create public awareness on power losses citing an instance of power theft prevailing in Nagaland. Without electricity it is almost impossible to work and do anything, he said and urged the consumers to give effective cooperation to the power department.
The Chief Secretary viewed that whether the state has its own project or purchase from outside; the most important aspect in our context is power distribution within the state.
He also said that electricity directly influences the efficiency and effectiveness of all the government department, companies, private firms, entrepreneurs and all business establishments depend on the electricity.
Rtd. Chief Engineer (P) & Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, Er. Lanu Toy touching on the topic “Power development in the state” said Nagaland state has so far been able to make only a little contribution toward the regional grid through the 75 MW Doyang Hydro Electric Project even though Hydro Power generation is renewable and cheap. “Nagaland unfortunately, has remained unable for too long a period to develop any major power projects and has failed to contribute towards power availability,” he lamented.
He also said that though power is generated from various inherent potentials, as of now, it is mainly from hydro and conventional thermal potentials. Like many other states in India, he said Nagaland continues to suffer from inadequate availability of power particularly during dry seasons. In this regard he maintained that Nagaland cannot remain complacent but should wake up from a state of entire dependence to interdependence and should also be ready for any calamity in the system.
Er. Toy mentioned that the State would do well to initiate actions for taking up in right earnest, the 150 MW Tizu Zungki Hydro Electric Project which has been established to be the most technically and economically viable project in the state.
“The final goods to be delivered by the power department authority, is to provide adequate, uninterrupted, stable and cheap power to the consumers and it is their indispensable responsibility and obligation to go on all out to ensure availability y of such power,” he said.
Dwelling on the topic “Power Sector Reforms in the State,” Dr. S.K. Chaudhuri, formerly, Professor in finance in the International Management Institute, New Delhi described power as a critical input for economic development and asserted that no investors will come to Nagaland without proper power facility.
Dr. Chaudhuri also talked at length on shortage of power availability in the state and lack of proper maintenance and upgradation system. He stated that shortage of power during dry season is about 60 MW, adding that power generation in north eastern states is mostly hydro and depends on monsoon.
