Dimapur, April 9 (MExN): The state government has been left with no option but to ‘reach out’ to the Center to alleviate the power crisis in Nagaland even while a Rs 6-7 Crore IT-enabled power monitoring system is being set in place to monitor all power operations including input and transmission regulation of electricity in the entire state.
Reeling under severe power crisis since last year due to “monsoon” and no respite in sight, a formal request is expected to be made by the Nagaland government to the Center for additional allocation of power under “special dispensation.” Under this “special dispensation” a request for a ‘charity quota’ would be forwarded to the Power Ministry for allocation from the national power grid. Nagaland is presently existing on about 13-14 MW. The total requirement? 74 MW.
It has always been the state’s stand for allocation as a special case and on this, a request for additional allocation would be made, Commissioner & Secretary of Power Talitemjen Toy said. “Power has become such a precious item; in fact it is a sensitive issue” he opined adding that the power shortage has become a serious issue in need to be addressed. He however stated that the power prelim is not confined to Nagaland only but is common in most of the states in the country, the North East in particular.
Parliamentary Secretary for Power Doshehe Y Sema also confirmed the same. “We will request from the national grid for more power. Distribution is to be done upon the requirement” he said. While stating the request to be on “special case” to ease the severe power shortage, Sema, however, also held the opinion that as far as power is concerned there is not enough available to even purchase as the shortage is being experienced by almost all the states. “Even Tripura, a power-surplus state, supplying power to others is facing a shortage” he said.
On related matters, the power sector in Nagaland is being instituted an IT-enabled system to monitor and regulate all power operations in the state. The system, an initiative undertaken under the Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (APDRP) is with the objective to renovate, modernize, update dated power plants, strength sub-transmission and distribution network including energy accounting and metering in the distribution circles. The APDRP proposal was accepted in 2006. The system is expected to become fully operational very soon this year. According to Parliamentary Secretary Sema the system can also perform monitoring functions including power-theft, input/loss of power transmission and billing. The Secretary for Power will be forwarding certain guidelines consonant with the use of the system, he said. Further advertisement for firms for operating the system have been floated in the national media, it was added.
Meanwhile, Nagaland’s “monsoon” induced power crisis is expected to ease with a private corporation expressing willingness to invest in power. The investment will be made by the undisclosed corporation in particular to Phek’s Tizuzunki station (150 MW) and Dikhu station in Mon (140 MW). A MoU is expected to be signed within a week’s time highly-placed sources from the government said. A tem of experts from the corporation had recently visited the two sites (around last Sunday) to “investigate” the power potential of the stations after which, investment feasibility would be gauged before the MoU is signed between the Corporation and the state government, it was informed. Also, the Phase III Doyang project exploration is expected to yield an additional power load of about 24 MW. Private corporations are showing interest in investment, it was informed. Ironically, almost 70% of the power generated by the once-much-hyped-as-power-savior of Nagaland, Doyang Hydro Electric Project, is “taken” by other states, while its parent state continue to be in the dark.
