SLHP will be commissioned by the end of this year: RK Singh

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Union Minister of Power, New & Renewable Energy, RK Singh visited NHPC's Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHP) on Monday and Tuesday. During the visit, the Minister was accompanied by Alok Kumar, Secretary Power, Government of India, NHPC Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) AK Singh, Joint Secretary (Hydro), Ministry of Power (GoI) Raghuraj Madhav Rajendran and Directors (Projects) NHPC Biswajit Basu.

At the Power House of the Project, the Union Minister graced the occasion of completion of Erection of Unit#1 (Boxing-up) of the project which is a major milestone towards the commission of the project. The Minister also had an interactive session with the beneficiaries of various schemes being implemented by Government of India in the Dollungmukh Circle.

During the visit, the Union Minister and other dignitaries inspected various sites of the project and took stock of the progress of ongoing construction activities wherein CMD-NHPC, AK Singh briefed about the progress in construction activities of the project.

The Union Minister along with Chowna Mein, the Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Power, Government of Arunachal Pradesh took a review meeting with the senior management of various power utilities working in the region and urged them to harness maximum hydro-power potential of the region for the benefit of the region as well as the nation.

Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu and Lakhimpur MP Pradan Barua also called on the Union Power Minister and held discussions. The Union Minister and other dignitaries also visited an exhibition organized by Farmer-Producers Companies registered for Livelihood interventions initiated by NHPC in the field of piggery, sericulture and handloom in the downstream areas of the project. They appreciated the efforts and initiative of NHPC towards sustainable livelihood for the people living in the downstream areas.

On the other hand while interacting with media persons, RK Singh said that the SLHP would be commissioned either in the last part of this year or in first part of the next year.

"From then the project will generate power. This project will control the flood problem caused by the Subansiri River. The project will be a boon for Assam", the Union Minister added.

He further said that the agitation against the SLHP was sponsored by funds from abroad.

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