SHILLONG: Reeling under severe power crisis, Meghalaya government has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to mitigate the problem.
Highlighting the vast potential of the state in regards to hydropower projects, spanning small, medium and large ventures, Power Minister AT Mondal, during a State Power Ministers’ Conference on Tuesday, requested a special package from the Centre.
Notably, the request is in line with those sanctioned to Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh.
Under the Prime Minister’s special package, Arunachal Pradesh received an allocation of approximately Rs 550 crore for solar power and small hydro power projects.
He also called for the reinstatement of funding subsidies for minor hydropower projects, aligning with the strides taken in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh.
Urging special attention to the state’s energy development, Minister Mondal has requested the Centre to provide financial packages and technical assistance to support the successful execution of projects that Meghalaya has initiated with the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited.
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Recently, the state government inked memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with the public sector undertaking covering aspects such as Power Portfolio Management Services (PMS), the establishment of Pump Storage Power Plants (PSPs), and the implementation of floating solar projects within the state.
Speaking at the conference, Minister Mondal also proposed the establishment of the Ad Research and Development Institute in Shillong for the entire Northeastern region.
He argued that this institute could play a pivotal role in addressing the unique geographic and climatic challenges faced by the Northeastern states in their pursuit of renewable energy solutions.
Mondal pointed out that Meghalaya had initiated the Chief Minister’s Solar Mission independently and suggested that the Centre’s rooftop scheme subsidies be extended to other regions.
