Power woes in Mokokchung are expected to soon become a thing of the past as the execution of the North Eastern Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP) has come to fruition albeit facing some initial glitches. Under the scheme, a 2×10 MVA project at Mokokchung Powerhouse, Salangtem Ward and another 2×5 MVA at IMDH Medical Colony has been installed.
It is worth recalling that the project faced potential desanctioning by the central Ministry of Power due to delays caused by an unresolved land acquisition issue. Thanks to the intervention of the All Ward Union Mokokchung Town, the land dispute was resolved with the landowner, leading to approval from the State Land Acquisition Authority (SLAA) of the Government of Nagaland on October 6, 2021.
On November 1, 2021, the Ministry of Power communicated to the Government of Nagaland for the premature closure of the project, citing the land issue. Originally slated for completion by December 31, 2021, the project’s premature closure was rescinded following the state government’s intervention, including efforts by the Chief Minister.
The North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP) represents a significant stride toward achieving the national goal of “Power to All” by enhancing consumer access to grid-connected power supply, improving its availability and reliability, and facilitating inclusive growth.
This scheme, approved by the union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Modi in 2014 for six states (Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, and Nagaland), aims to strengthen the Intra-State Transmission and Distribution System at an estimated cost of Rs.5111.33 crore, including a capacity-building expenditure of Rs.89 crore.
The scheme is a new Central Sector Plan Scheme of the Ministry of Power (MoP), to be implemented with World Bank assistance and the MoP budget. The project is funded on a 50:50 basis (World Bank loan: Government of India), except for the capacity-building component, for which the Government of India will bear the entire cost. Following commissioning, the project will be owned and maintained by the State Government.
As Mokokchung celebrates this momentous occasion, it’s important to recognize the dedicated individuals who played a crucial role in bringing the NERPSIP project to fruition. The selection of Mokokchung for this scheme was undoubtedly intentional. Without their efforts, any other district in Nagaland could have been chosen in place of Mokokchung.
Further, the role of AWUMT, Ao Senden and the district administration in resolving the land acquisition issue and the state government as well as the Chief Minister deserves appreciation.
With the inauguration of the substations, optimism abounds for a brighter future ahead.