Our Correspondent
Itanagar: North Eastern Regional Power Committee (NERPC) in its 20th meeting has approved the 132 KV double circuit transmission line from Roing in Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh and Chapakhowa in Assam’s Tinsukia district.
The transmission line would be the second injection point from North East Region Grid to Ranganadi Hydro Electric Project (RHEP) in Lower Subansiri district of the state which supply power to Upper Subansiri, West Siang, East Siang, Lower Dibang Valley, Lohit and Namsai districts of the state.
During the meeting held at Guwahati on Thursday, the NERPC also approved in principle for the 220 KV double circuit transmission line from Kathalguri in Assam’s Sibsagar district to Namsai district in Arunachal which, would be the third injection point from North East Region grid.
However, the Kathalguri-Namsai transmission is subjected to clearance from North Eastern Regional Standing Committee on Transmission, official sources informed here on Friday.
“Both these lines will further improve the reliability of grid and improve longer quantity drawal of power,” the sources said.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein who attended the meeting has appealed the NERPC and Powergrid to expedite the process of early construction of 132 KV double circuit transmission line from Roing-Chapakhowa and 220 KV double circuit transmission line from Kathalguri-Namsai.
“Once completed, the transmission lines will improve the reliability of grid system in the state. Such smaller interconnections between states will be indispensable at the times of grid contingencies and shutdown planning,” Mein, who also holds the power portfolio, pointed out.
The deputy chief minister informed that availability of more interconnection would give more flexibility of grid management and which would also improve the state’s available transfer capability.
Mein in his address stated that Arunachal Pradesh has boundless natural endowments like enormous hydro power potential reserves which can make the North East a game changer in power sector industry in the country. He mentioned that such natural gift to the region is an opportunity for all to become the highest hydro power producer not only in India but also in the international electricity market. “In order to harness the hydro potential of the state, the government has taken a shift from earlier policy of hydro power development. Due to various inherent socio-political and environment circumstances many of the projects under MoUs could not come up. A decision has been arrived at to terminate the MoUs signed with those power developers who are not performing,” Mein said.
“We will like to concentrate on smaller projects and prefer public sector utilities to take part. We are also sensitive to environment issues and therefore will encourage green and renewable energy,” he added.
For further improvement and reliability of state grid for uninterrupted power supply, the deputy chief minister proposed for interconnections of state grid with North East Region grid at 132 KV line from Silapathar in Assam’s Dhemaji district to Niglok in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh via Jonai in Assam and 132 KV line from Basar in West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh to Silapathar via Likabali.
“Niglok has an Industrial Growth Centre and a Sainik School besides an Army Brigade Headquarter at few kilometres. The power requirement is expected to grow exponentially once the Industrial Growth Centre starts functioning in full capacity,” Mein said.
The meeting is held by NERPC with the initiatives for regional benefits, cooperative and inclusive development in the region and to bring about a quantum change in the power sector scenario, the sources added.
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