Earlier this month, Er Moa Aier, Engineer-in-Chief of the Department of Power, shed light on the alarming power shortage situation in Nagaland this year. Aier attributed the shortage to underperformance of hydro stations and the shutdown of several thermal power stations for maintenance, exacerbating the acute power deficit.
Responding to protests from the Angami Students’ Union regarding erratic power supply, particularly during the exam season, Aier announced that the State Government had authorized the purchase of additional power from the spot market outside the North East (NE) region on an emergency basis, despite the higher cost compared to long-term purchase agreements.
In the midst of this power crisis, today, Governor La Ganesan lauded the significant progress witnessed in Nagaland’s power sector infrastructure over the past few years in his address to the ongoing Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
According to Governor Ganesan, notable advancements have been made in the Generation Sector. Projects such as the Lower-Tizu 42MW HEP and Zungki 24MW HEP have obtained clearances from various Ministries of the Government of India and are now awaiting funding from the Asian Development Bank. Additionally, the Tizu-Valley 24MW HEP has been submitted to the Central Government for appraisal and clearances, signaling a significant stride towards bolstering the state’s power generation capabilities.
Furthermore, in the Transmission Sector, under the World Bank-funded NE Region Power System Improvement Scheme (NERPSIP), Nagaland has achieved comprehensive coverage of major towns and load centers with a robust 132kv line system.
He said, efforts in the Sub-Transmission and Distribution Sector are also underway, with continuous upgradation and strengthening initiatives. Plans are in place to implement the Revamped Distribution System Scheme (RDSS) to address sectoral requirements.
However, to enhance revenue collection efficiency, he said, the government intends to deploy smart Pre-paid meters on a large scale, thereby reducing purchase-collection gaps and curbing leakages.
Mokokchung Times