Mizoram to soon commission two micro hydro electric power projects

The Mizoram government will soon commission two micro hydro electric power projects, which will generate 0.20 MW power, according to Power minister R. Lalzirliana who told the state legislative assembly on Friday.

Construction of a 0.10 MW micro hydro electric power project at Tuiriza near Saitual village in Aizawl distric and another 0.10 MW Tuiching micro hydro electric power plant near Mimbung village in Champhai district bordering Myanmar have been completed and they are ready for commissioning, the minister said while replying to an unstarred question from opposition Zoram People’s Movement’s member C. Lalsawivunga.

Lalzirliana said that the total installed capacity of the state for Hydro electric power stood at 29.35 Mega Watt (MW) and that of solar power was 0.35 MW as in April this year.

He also said that a 5 MW Tlawva hydro electric power project near Khawbung village and Kawlbem hydro electric power project, both in Champhai district, are yet to be completed.

According to the minister, the Power department had submitted a proposal to the state government to cancel the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) for construction of a 210 MW hydro electric power project at Tuivai near Ngopa village in Champhai district owing to failure on the part of the corporation to submit report to the state government as demanded.

There are about 14 micro hydro electric power dams in Mizoram.

During the period 2017-2018, the state’s net generation of Hydro electric power was 57.11 Million Unit (MU) and that of net import was 611.29 MU.

The estimated power potential of the state during the same period was 4,000 MW, allocated share of power was 132.96 MW and real time power availability was estimated at 46.57 MW.

The total demand of power during peak hour was 105 MW during 2017-2018 against 118 MW in 2016-2017.

According to Statistical Handbook released recently, the state power import expenditure has gone up from Rs 23,87.3 crore in 2016-2017 to Rs 23,827.20 crore in 2017-2018.

The per capita consumption of power during the same period was estimated at 360.72 Kilowatt hour (Kwh) against 322.22 Kwh in 2016-2017.

Mizoram has launched ‘Saubhagya’ under Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana scheme on January 17 last year to provide electricity to all willing households.

Of the 13,854 families, which have no access to power, more than 4000 households have been already provided electricity, the Power department officials said.

According to 2011 general census, there were 30 “unelectrified” census towns in Mizoram, which number has been now reduced to 11.

Source: morungexpress