Headlines       Vol. 1 Issue 42-43

Mar 22- Apr 6,   1999

Sikkim to exploit its hydro-power potential With the setting up of the Sikkim Power Corporation (SPC), the tiny Himalayan State is all set to fully exploit the huge hydro-power potential for the overall economic benefit of the region. The newly established corporation is a step closer to exploit the Himalayan State's hydro-power generation potential of over 8,000 MW in near future. The Himalayan State's immense potential of hydro-power generation from the abundance of snow and monsoon fed rivers, including the great eastern Himalayan drainers — the turbulant Teesta and the Rangeet — had so far not been exploited properly. Sikkim is all set to become a fully power-sufficiant State with the commission of the first stage of the multi crore 60 MW Rangeet Hydel project in June this year. The project undertaken by the National Hydro-power Corporation (NHPC) will be commissioned in three stages of 20 MW units each. Sikkim's share of 12 per cent power generation will be utilised locally and the rest will be exported by the NHPC through National Power Grid to the power-starved Eastern and North-Eastern parts of the country. But at present, Sikkim is facing a severe power shortage. According to the authorities the power crisis is due to the abnormally low discharge in the rivers during the winter months. This record low discharge was due to the five month's drought the State had been facing. The drought is so acute that the State's major hydro-power project, Lower Lagyap Hydro-Power station which usually generates 5.5 MW of power during the lean period in the winter months, is at present only being able to generate 4 MW. The situation was further compounded by the snapping of the Chukha and Jaldhaka grid transmission to the State. Incidentally the State imports 15 MW of power from the Chukha and Jaldakha hydel project in Bhutan and West Bengal. The total power requirement of the Himalayan State is around 29 MW per day. But due to weak transmission grid, out of 15 MW of power, Sikkim in real terms get around 11 to 12 MW of power every day. Apart from drought, the power trasmission system in the State has also been affected by several landslides during the monsoon. The Centre has reportedly allocated Rs. 13 crore for the landslide-ravaged State out of which power department is likely to get Rs. 2.5 crore for restoration and repair of the power infrastructure. The authorities expressed hope that with the recommissioning of the 8 MW Rongli-Chu hydel station, extensively damaged by landslides last year, the power situation would be stabilised by the first week of April.

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