Shillong(Meghalaya ), Oct 25 : The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for development of Wah Umiam Hydro Electric Project (50 MW) Stage-I and Wah Umiam Hydro Electric Project (100 MW) Stage-II was signed today between the Government of Meghalaya, Power Department and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) at a programme held at Pinewood Hotel, here .
Prestone Tynsong, Deputy Chief Minister attended the programme as Chief Guest.
Speaking on the occasion , Tynsong expressed his gratitude to NEEPCO and stated that the signing of agreement between the two parties is an important and meaningful event which will benefit the state greatly.
The minister also assured that the government will co operate and provide the required services to make sure that the project is completed at the earliest. Power generation is the main problem faced by the state from time to time, presently the government can generate only 350 mw and the requirement in the state is 650 mw which shows a huge deficit in the demand and supply of power, he added. He also informed that the government has been looking for ways and means for the possibility of transformation in the power sector, hence the tie up with the CPSU (Central Public Sector Undertaking) in the form of NEEPCO is very much needed, he said.
He stated that in previous years many such memorandum of agreements were signed with private sectors but had to be scrapped due to various reasons but hopeful that with NEEPCO being a government sector, the signing of agreement will not just be in mere paper but will be translated into reality.
Tynsong also stated that Meghalaya has the potential for hydro projects which is not less than 3000 MW, presently less than 250 MW can be generated and he also expressed his optimism that the Government and NEEPCO should sign more agreements in the future. He further added that the public hesitancy can be removed when the government is associating with the CPSU rather than with public investors. He urged the power department and NEEPCO to work jointly in making Meghalaya a surplus producer of power and a state which can be able to export the same in the near future. He also stressed that the government along with the NEEPCO is leaving no stone unturned in maximising the power generation capacity within the state.
The MOA was signed by D D Shira, Joint Secretary ,Meghalaya, Power Department and Anil Kumar, Director Personnel, NEEPCO on behalf of the state government and NEEPCO, respectively.
Others who were present included Abdus Saleh, Chairman, Meghalaya State Planning Board, Pravin Bakshi, Commissioner and Secretary, Power Department, senior officials from the state government and officials from NEEPCO.
