Mizoram CM reviews hydro project progress

Aizawl: Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma on Wednesday chaired a review meeting at his office on the 132-Megawatt Tuivai Hydro-electric Power Project, attended by power minister F Rodingliana and officials of the power and electricity department.The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Tuivai Project was already completed and the project was ready for tendering. Efforts were underway to implement the project under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode.At present, Mizoram’s peak power demand stood at 182 MW. According to the 20th Electric Power Survey, the state’s peak power demand was projected to rise to around 213 MW by the year 2030. The state govt currently had an installed power generation capacity of 50.20 MW, though actual generation remained considerably lower. As a result, only about 10 percent of the state’s total power requirement was generated within Mizoram.The state spent approximately Rs 649.54 crore annually on power purchases, excluding transmission charges. In view of this, the state govt considered the expansion of local power generation capacity to be a matter of great importance.The Tuivai Hydro-electric Project was initially surveyed by the Central Water Commission (CWC) in 1992 with an estimated generation potential of 210 MW. However, as part of the proposed dam area would extend into Manipur, the project was subsequently re-surveyed and redesigned. A revised DPR was prepared for a 132-MW power generation capacity.According to the DPR, the project was estimated to cost Rs 2,289.50 crore and was targeted for completion within five years. The meeting decided that the annual financial requirements for implementation of the project would be examined in consultation with the Finance Department.Apart from the Tuivai Project, the meeting reviewed the ongoing Tuirini Project and works being carried out under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). Discussions were held on issues to be taken up with the Union power minister during his forthcoming visit to Mizoram. lawitlang10@gmail.com