Electrification in North-East  
Rs. 175 cr. for power projects to light rural areas  

For the financial year 2001-2002, provision of Rs. 69 crore was made for the seven North-Eastern states and Sikkim for intensive electrification and for undertaking system improvement programme. Besides, Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd. (REC) also made a provision of Rs. 100 crore for electrification of rural households. In addition, Rs. 9.3 crore was allocated for single point light connections to the households of the rural poor.

Sanction of the Government of India has been conveyed as grant-in-aid from Central Pool of Resources for electrification of tribal villages as detailed below. Subsequently number of tribal villages under this scheme was enhanced from 165 to 500 in North-Eastern states. Statewise break-up of the additional 335 villages as finalised as under:-

North-Eastern states have been requested to identify the villages proposed to be taken up and the requirement of funds thereof and submit detailed proposal to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). A master telecom plan in consultation with M/s Merz Mecllenan, UK, has been prepared to meet the telecommunication requirement of the power sector. A unified loan dispatch and communication (ULDC) scheme has been conceived to operate, monitor and control the regional power system in a well co-ordinated manner. This scheme for the North-East region is being given a special attention to remove all constraints including funding arrangement to provide a help to the NE states.

With the help of various committees set up in the past, a number of Hydro Electric (HE) projects in North-East region and Sikkim have been accorded to CEC. One HE scheme with an installation of 2x40 = 80 mw, namely Bairabi in Mizoram has been cleared by CEA in November 2000 under State sector. At present 38 schemes with proposed installed capacity of 27570 mw are under various stages of survey and investigations in the North-Eastern region and Sikkim (out of which 34 projects with a proposed installation of 26681 mw are in the North-East alone.

Three major projects on anvil are 
(1) Dihang and Subansiri in Arunachal Pradesh Under the Dihang Dam project, three schemes with total installation of 13450 mw is being planned in the Dihang river. Under the Subansiri project, three schemes with total installations of 6500 mw is being planned over the Subansiri river. Survey and investigations of these schemes by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) are in progress.

(2) Tipaimukh Dam Project (6x250=1500mw) in Manipur This project for construction of a dam across the Barak river near the confluence of Tuivai river has been entrusted to North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd. (NEEPCO). NEEPCO is continuing hydro-meteorlogical observations after taking over the project and has submitted a detailed project report to the Government of Manipur.

Other ongoing projects under NHPC are:-
Teesta HE power project - Stage V (3x170=510) mw in Sikkim It is to generate 2573 mws of electricity in a 90 per cent dependable year. The estimated cost is Rs. 2200 crore and it is scheduled to be commissioned in 2006-07. Development of infrastructure facilities is in progress.

Loktak Downstream HE project (3x30=90mw) in Manipur An annual energy generation of 420.25 mw is expected in a 90 per cent dependable year. The estimated cost is Rs. 578 crore and the project is scheduled to be commissioned in 2008-09.

Other ongoing project under NEEPCO is:-
Ranganadi HEP (405 mw) in Arunachal Pradesh.

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